Indonesia & Australia Expand Security Ties With Japan, Papua New Guine

Indonesia and Australia plan to expand their defence cooperation by bringing Japan and Papua New Guinea into new regional security arrangements, strengthening coordination among Indo-Pacific partners.

The proposal was discussed during talks in Jakarta between Indonesia’s Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles.

After the meeting, Sjamsoeddin said both countries were exploring new trilateral frameworks that would involve Japan and Papua New Guinea alongside Indonesia and Australia.

Officials said one arrangement would include Indonesia, Australia and Japan, while another would connect Indonesia, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

• Indonesia, Australia explore new security frameworks with Japan
• Defence talks propose trilateral partnerships with Papua New Guinea
• Indo-Pacific nations expand cooperation amid regional tensions

The partnerships are intended to strengthen defence cooperation and improve coordination among the participating countries.

The discussions also covered intelligence sharing, joint military cooperation and broader defence collaboration, though officials did not provide operational details. Sjamsoeddin said the initiative reflects a shared interest among regional partners in maintaining security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Marles said the talks reaffirmed the strong defence relationship between Australia and Indonesia and highlighted the importance of working together with regional partners to support a secure and peaceful Indo-Pacific.

The announcement follows a security agreement signed last month between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The treaty commits both countries to consult each other in the event of security threats and to strengthen cooperation through joint initiatives, defence engagement and information sharing.

Indonesia and Australia have steadily expanded defence ties in recent years through joint exercises, maritime cooperation and military exchanges. The new proposal signals an effort to widen that cooperation by working with additional regional partners.

Analysts say the move reflects increasing attention among Indo-Pacific countries toward strengthening security coordination as geopolitical tensions continue to shape the regional landscape.

Including Japan and Papua New Guinea would broaden the network of defence cooperation and allow the participating countries to coordinate more closely on regional security challenges, maritime monitoring and strategic stability.

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If implemented, the proposed arrangements would mark a significant step in Indonesia–Australia defence relations and underline the growing role of regional security partnerships in maintaining stability across the Indo-Pacific region.