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The four compass points of Australia–Indonesia relations
Posted By Graeme Dobell on February 17, 2020 @ 06:00
‘Indonesia and Australia are destined to be close neighbours. We cannot choose our neighbours. We have to choose to be friends. Australia is Indonesia’s closest friend.’
— Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Address to the Australian Parliament, 10 February 2020
Over the years, our relations have experienced many twists and turns, highs and lows. We know from experience that our relations are so complex and unique that it can be pulled in so many different directions, and it can go right as often as it can go wrong. Which is why we have to handle it with the greatest care and counsel.
In defence terms, Indonesia is our most important neighbour. The Indonesian archipelago forms a protective barrier to Australia’s northern approaches. We have a common interest in regional stability, free from interference by potentially hostile external powers. At the same time, we must recognise that, because of its proximity, the archipelago to our north is the area from or through which a military threat to Australia could most easily be posed.
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[1] Address to the Australian Parliament: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansardr/be8a2537-4a84-4dc2-b27b-28f392b06329/&sid=0001
[2] deeply disparate: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/indonesia-and-australia-destined-but-disparate-democracies/
[3] speech : https://www.gg.gov.au/about-governor-general/media/state-lunch-honour-his-excellency-mr-joko-widodo-president-republic-indonesia-government-house
[4] extraordinary triangle: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/extraordinary-triangle-australia-png-indonesia/
[5] Paul Keating’s declaration: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-and-indonesia-towards-a-durable-partnership/
[6] said: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/indonesia-and-australia-together-apart/
[7] ‘acts as a strategic shield to the immediate north of Australia’: https://www.regionalsecurity.org.au/Resources/Files/vol3no4DibbandBrabinSmith.pdf
[8] statement about geography: https://www.defence.gov.au/SPI/publications/defreview/1986/Review-of-Australias-Defence-Capabilities-1986.pdf
[9] vividly: http://www.keating.org.au/shop/item/keith-murdoch-oration-state-library-of-victoria
[10] memoirs: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781760556686
[11] Hugh White muses: https://www.australianforeignaffairs.com/articles/extract/2018/07/the-jakarta-switch
[12] Australia should join ASEAN: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/australia-asean-community-partner
[13] testament: http://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/australia-and-indonesia-current-problems-future-prospects
[14] sage: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/05/06/prof-jamie-mackie-a-forceful-advocate-close-indonesia-australia-relations.html
[15] 2018 comprehensive strategic partnership: https://dfat.gov.au/geo/indonesia/Pages/joint-declaration-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-between-the-commonwealth-of-australia-and-republic-of-indonesia.aspx
[16] 2006 Lombok treaty: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/2008/3.html
[17] joint statement: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/joint-statement-0