February 6, 2026 | 03:11 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Indonesia is Australia’s most important partner, underscoring the country’s central role in regional prosperity, security, and stability.
Albanese made the remarks during a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Friday, February 6, 2026.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Prabowo, Albanese said he was pleased to return to Jakarta and emphasized the strategic importance of Indonesia to Australia.
“No country is more important to Australia – or to the prosperity, security and stability of the Indo-Pacific – than Indonesia,” said the leader of the Australian Labor Party.
Albanese said the two countries share a deep level of mutual trust as neighbors, partners, and friends, and stressed the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
He also highlighted the geographic ties between the two nations, noting that Australia and Indonesia share one of the world’s longest maritime boundaries.
“Australia and Indonesia share one of the world’s longest maritime boundaries, which naturally makes us close partners,” he said.
During the meeting, Albanese and Prabowo signed a joint security treaty aimed at expanding defense cooperation between the two countries. The agreement covers areas such as military officer exchanges, joint exercises, and cooperation in military education and training.
The two leaders also agreed to deepen economic cooperation. Albanese said Australia had signed a memorandum of understanding with the state's Sovereign Wealth Fund, Danantara.
He said the agreement would strengthen partnerships and information sharing between Australian institutions and Danantara, while also helping identify opportunities for mutual investment.
“Just as importantly, it will help identify opportunities for increased two-way investment between our nations, bolstering our shared economic security and resilience,” Albanese said.
In the same press conference, President Prabowo said Indonesia and Australia share a long-standing relationship and described Australia as one of Indonesia’s closest neighbors and strategic partners.
Prabowo also recalled Australia’s historical support for Indonesia’s independence, saying Canberra played an important role in helping secure and uphold Indonesia’s proclamation of independence in 1945.
He reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to good neighborly relations and its long-standing free and active foreign policy.
“Indonesia and Australia are destined to live side by side and we have chosen to establish that relationship founded on mutual trust and goodwill,” Prabowo said.
Read: Indonesia, Australia Sign New Joint Security Treaty
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