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Australia, US, then Japan: What’s behind Indonesia’s flurry of defence deals?
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- Indonesia rapidly signed major security deals with Australia, the US, and Japan.
- Experts debate if deals signal a Western tilt or align with Indonesia's "bebas aktif" policy, given ongoing ties with China and Russia.
- Translating agreements into concrete outcomes is challenging. The potential strain on Indonesia's military and leadership focus, and resource issues are key concerns.
AI generated
JAKARTA – Since February, Indonesia has signed three major defence agreements – with Australia, the United States, and now Japan. For a country long associated with a more measured, non-aligned approach, the pace is striking.
The deals, largely with Western partners and their allies, have raised questions on what is driving this burst of activity and what it means for Indonesia’s geopolitical positioning – even as its military is being stretched by civilian duties at home.
