Adm. David Johnston, head of the Australian Defence Force, told reporters in Jakarta that while no decisions have been made, collaboration between nations remains a possibility.
He said it is too early to commit to specific roles or contributions, noting that global leaders only recently met in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to begin peace discussions on Gaza.
Johnston added that future arrangements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority remain unclear, making any immediate military planning premature.
However, he confirmed that Australia is participating in early conversations to assess evolving scenarios and explore the country’s possible role.
He emphasized the importance of continued dialogue with Indonesia’s military and said both sides are working to understand each other’s potential contributions.
Johnston noted that if Australian and Indonesian plans align, the cooperation could benefit both nations.
His remarks responded to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s recent address at the United Nations General Assembly, where he reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to international peacekeeping.
Prabowo said Indonesia is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping forces and is prepared to deploy 20,000 troops or more to global conflict zones, including Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and Libya.
He said Indonesia stands ready to act when authorized by the UN Security Council and General Assembly to help secure and maintain peace wherever needed.
Australia has not ruled out participation but remains focused on assessing the situation and coordinating with international partners, including Indonesia.
Meanwhile, President Prabowo has instructed the Indonesian military (TNI) to prepare peacekeeping troops for deployment to Gaza, pending constructive outcomes from the peace summit in Egypt and UN Security Council approval.
The order was delivered to Deputy TNI Commander Gen. Tandyo Budi Revita during a closed-door meeting at the president’s private residence on Jalan Kertanegara, Jakarta, on Sunday night (Oct. 12).
In a recent speech at the United Nations Summit on Palestine and the Two-State Solution in New York, President Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to a two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.
Indonesia’s support for Palestine dates back to founding President Soekarno, who declared in 1962, “As long as the freedom of Palestine has yet to be returned to the Palestinians, it will forever be Indonesia’s duty to oppose Israel’s occupation.”
That principle continues to guide Jakarta’s foreign policy and its consistent backing for Palestinian statehood.
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Translator: Kuntum KR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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