Melbourne, August 27, 2026 – The Europe Today: Indonesia is pursuing a resilience partnership with Australia to strengthen cooperation in food and energy security, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono said on Thursday.
Speaking in Melbourne, Sugiono said the initiative initially covered several areas, including maritime affairs, the economy, security and food, but discussions had led the two sides to focus particularly on food and energy security.
“We are trying to focus on several pillars, including maritime, economic, security and food. From the discussions, we agreed to narrow the focus to food and energy security,” Sugiono said.
He said the initiative had emerged partly in response to challenges caused by the conflict in the Middle East, which has affected countries in the region, including Australia’s access to raw materials required for fertilizer production.
According to Sugiono, the proposed partnership is designed to address regional challenges that directly affect the interests of countries in the region.
He emphasized that the initiative would not constitute a new bloc or grouping, but rather seek to intensify regional cooperation and strengthen resilience, particularly in food and energy security.
Sugiono also stressed that the proposed partnership would complement existing agreements between Indonesia and Australia.
In addition, he said Indonesia had renewed a trilateral agreement with Australia and Pacific Island countries to expand cooperation across several sectors.
The renewed agreement builds on an arrangement signed in 2021 and covers areas including disaster management, food security, healthcare, capacity building and economic cooperation.
Indonesia and Australia held their 2+2 Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Melbourne on Wednesday, where they discussed implementation of the Indonesia-Australia Treaty on Common Security, known as the Jakarta Treaty 2026.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed the treaty on February 6, 2026. The agreement provides for regular high-level consultations and mutual commitments to support each other in responding to serious security threats.
The treaty also includes provisions for joint defense training in Indonesia, the assignment of senior Indonesian military officers to the Australian Defence Force, expanded military education exchanges, and a memorandum of understanding concerning Australian investment with Danantara, Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund.
The latest initiatives underscore the two countries’ efforts to deepen strategic cooperation while enhancing regional resilience and security.
