Indonesia and Australia Plan Wider Security Cooperation With Japan and Papua New Guinea

JAKARTA, March 12 — Indonesia and Australia are planning to expand their existing security cooperation to include Japan and Papua New Guinea, Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said after holding talks with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles in Jakarta.

The proposed expansion would create two separate trilateral security arrangements — one involving Indonesia, Australia and Japan, and another involving Indonesia, Australia and Papua New Guinea — aimed at strengthening regional security cooperation and addressing emerging challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

Expanding Defence Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific

Officials said the move reflects a broader effort by Jakarta and Canberra to strengthen strategic partnerships and promote stability across the region.

Indonesia and Australia have already been working to deepen defence collaboration through intelligence sharing, joint military activities and broader security coordination.

The initiative builds on a security treaty signed earlier this year that commits both nations to consult one another if either country faces potential threats or security challenges.

Analysts say expanding cooperation to include Japan and Papua New Guinea could create a stronger multilateral framework to address issues such as maritime security, disaster response and regional defence coordination.

Plans for Joint Training Facilities

During discussions between the two defence ministers, officials also explored the possibility of developing a military training facility on Morotai Island in Indonesia’s North Maluku province.

The proposed project would involve upgrading existing defence infrastructure to support joint training exercises and military cooperation between partner countries.

According to Sjafrie, the facility could potentially host military personnel from several countries, including Australia and other regional partners.

Indonesia is also developing another training facility in North Kalimantan in cooperation with Singapore, highlighting Jakarta’s broader effort to expand defence partnerships across Southeast Asia.

Strengthening Regional Security Cooperation

Security experts say the move reflects growing strategic cooperation among Indo-Pacific countries as governments seek to strengthen defence capabilities and respond to evolving geopolitical dynamics.

Indonesia and Australia have long maintained close defence ties, including joint exercises and intelligence collaboration. Expanding the framework to include additional regional partners could help improve coordination on security challenges ranging from maritime threats to humanitarian disasters.

While the proposal remains at an early stage, officials say the discussions signal a commitment by both governments to deepen cooperation and enhance regional stability through broader security partnerships.