Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto to Australia on Nov. 12, marking the Indonesian leader’s first official visit since assuming office.
Prabowo last travelled to Australia as defence minister and president-elect in August 2024.
The two leaders most recently met in Jakarta in May during the Australia–Indonesia Annual Leaders’ Meeting, which was also Albanese’s first overseas trip following his re-election.
The Australian government describes the visit as a continuation of a long-standing partnership built over 75 years of diplomatic ties.
In a statement released on Nov. 11, Albanese said, “I am delighted to host President Prabowo in Australia and to return the warm and generous hospitality he provided when I visited Jakarta earlier this year.
“Australia and Indonesia share a deep trust and unbreakable bond as neighbours, partners and friends. Together, we are committed to working for a secure, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
“I look forward to building on our previous discussions about how we can develop the strength and depth of our bilateral relationship.”
Strengthening Security Cooperation
Security cooperation is expected to dominate the discussions, following recent commitments to deepen defence and maritime ties.
After the May meeting, Australia announced $15 million over four years to strengthen maritime cooperation, including a new annual official-level dialogue on maritime issues.
The move signalled both countries’ shared concerns about Indo-Pacific stability amid rising regional tensions—including aggressive activity from the Chinese Communist Party and reports that Russia had expressed interest in basing military aircraft in Indonesia’s easternmost region.
Although Indonesian officials denied receiving a proposal to station Russian forces at Manuhua Air Force Base, the respected military publisher Janes stood by its reporting, saying it had viewed documents forwarded to Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin’s office.
Sjamsoeddin met Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in February 2025.
Economic and Development Commitments
Australia has also committed a suite of economic and development initiatives aimed at supporting Indonesia’s long-term stability and growth.
These include $100 million to strengthen Indonesia’s health system, $3.5 million for anti-malaria drugs for the Indonesian military, and $50 million through the Fund for Green Infrastructure to encourage investment in clean-energy and sustainability projects.
Beyond financial support, Canberra is backing Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, by supporting its bid to join the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds.
As Indonesia is projected to become the world’s fifth-largest economy by the next decade and is already the fourth-largest nation by population, Canberra views deeper integration with Jakarta as a strategic imperative.
Rex Widerstrom contributed to this article.
