INDONESIA and Australia plan to expand their security cooperation to include Japan and Papua New Guinea.
Reuters reports that trilateral security arrangements would be developed with Indonesia, Australia, and Japan, and between Indonesia, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.
Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin confirmed this to reporters after talks with Australian counterpart Richard Marles on Thursday.
Indonesia and Australia signed a security treaty last month that commits them to consult each other if either country is threatened. Sjamsoeddin said they would work together on intelligence sharing, but did not elaborate.
The two ministers discussed the possibility of developing a defence training facility on the island of Morotai in North Maluku, with a proposal to upgrade its existing defence infrastructure.
“We will work together to improve and utilise it,” Sjamsoeddin said.
Marles told reporters that the Morotai facility would belong to Indonesia, but there would be opportunities for Australia to engage in training at the base.
Sjamsoeddin also said military personnel from countries such as the Philippines, Australia, and Singapore would have access to the facility, as well as another in North Kalimantan, which is being developed with Singapore.