Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Jakarta on Friday, underscoring deepening strategic ties as the two neighbors prepare to sign a landmark security cooperation treaty.
Prabowo welcomed Albanese at the Merdeka Palace and thanked him for the visit despite a tight parliamentary schedule, apologizing for being unable to greet him upon arrival at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base a day earlier.
"Thank you, Prime Minister, for coming here today. It is a pleasure to meet you,” Prabowo said.
Albanese said he flew directly from Canberra after cutting short Australia’s parliamentary question time, highlighting the priority his government places on relations with Indonesia.
He said the brief visit, held between parliamentary sessions, signaled the growing depth of bilateral ties and confirmed that a longer visit would follow.
"This is a short but important visit, as we indicated in December,” Albanese said.
Prabowo said he hoped cooperation between the two countries would continue to expand and deliver tangible benefits, particularly in security, regional stability, and Indo-Pacific cooperation.
Albanese’s visit scheduled for Feb. 5 to 7, during which Indonesia and Australia are set to sign a joint security cooperation treaty, reinforcing their strategic partnership in the region.
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Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Martha Herlinawati
Editor: Arie Novarina
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