He made the remarks after President Prabowo Subianto and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed the Treaty on Common Security at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Friday.
Sugiono said the agreement builds on commitments reached during President Prabowo’s visit to Sydney in November last year, where both sides agreed to deepen dialogue on shared security concerns as part of broader efforts to ensure a stable regional environment.
Under the treaty, Indonesia and Australia agreed to establish routine mechanisms to discuss security issues affecting the interests of both countries, without altering existing defense postures or obligations.
Sugiono said the treaty provides a structured forum for regular discussions on security matters, conducted in accordance with international law and based on mutual respect for territorial integrity and national sovereignty—principles he described as essential for sustaining confidence in bilateral relations.
He added that the forum would allow continuous and institutionalized exchanges on evolving regional and global security dynamics, while preserving long-standing norms that underpin cooperation and economic engagement between the two countries.
The minister stressed that the agreement should not be interpreted as a defense pact or military alliance between Jakarta and Canberra.
Sugiono said the treaty does not include provisions requiring either country to treat threats faced by the other as shared or collective threats.
“This is not a pact, not a defense pact, and not a military pact,” Sugiono said, describing the arrangement as a consultative mechanism designed to manage regional security conditions.
He added that the cooperation model is not new and reflects approaches used in earlier bilateral frameworks between Indonesia and Australia.
Sugiono cited similarities with the 1995 Lombok Treaty, which has long served as a foundation for Indonesia-Australia security relations.
Through the consultation forum, both governments are expected to exchange assessments on current security developments, including regional and global challenges that could affect stability.
Regional stability remains crucial for Indonesia’s national interests, particularly in safeguarding sovereignty and supporting long-term economic and social welfare, Sugiono said.
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Translator: Maria CGP, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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