– Indonesia and Australia signed a new defense agreement to counter security threats in the region
– The agreement includes provisions for joint drills and deployments to each country
– Both countries seek to boost security ties in the face of increased flashpoints in the region, such as the South China Sea
– Indonesia’s Defense Minister described the agreement as a “historic milestone”
– The agreement is not a military pact or alliance, with a focus on cooperation to promote peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region
– The pact was hailed as the most significant defense agreement between Indonesia and Australia, allowing for greater interoperability between defense forces
– A joint military exercise involving almost 2,000 military personnel is scheduled for November in Indonesia’s East Java province