Australia and Indonesia have formalised a new security treaty, marking an important step in strengthening the longstanding strategic relationship between the two nations. The agreement was signed in Jakarta on 6 February 2026 by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, underlining collaborative intentions on security consultation and cooperation.
Governments on both sides have described the treaty, formally known as the Treaty on Common Security, as a significant enhancement of bilateral cooperation. While the full text has not been published, Indonesian President Prabowo confirmed that the agreement commits Australia and Indonesia to consult each other on security matters if either party faces a threat, supporting closer coordination between their defence and security establishments.
The signing took place at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, reflecting a diplomatic milestone in what officials have called one of the strongest periods in the two countries’ relationship in decades. Australia has referred to the treaty as one of the most substantial developments in bilateral relations in 30 years, building on earlier security frameworks.
This latest treaty builds on earlier arrangements, such as the Lombok Treaty (signed in 2006), which addressed broader defence cooperation. The new agreement extends consultations and strategic dialogue mechanisms under a legally recognised instrument known as the Jakarta Treaty of 2026, reaffirming intentions to deepen cooperation in defence and security across political and military levels.
Officials from both governments described the pact as strengthening shared security interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono characterises the treaty as an evolution of existing cooperation rather than creating a formal alliance or binding defence obligations, emphasising mechanisms for enhanced consultation and information exchange when either country perceives a threat to its security.
The agreement also follows discussions held in late 2025, when leaders confirmed their intent to sign a new defence agreement to enhance cooperation on security matters and provide a framework for regular strategic dialogue. The treaty is rooted in historical ties: it references previous agreements dating back to 1995 and continues a pattern of evolving bilateral engagement.
For security professionals and policymakers in Australia, the treaty signals a renewed emphasis on regional collaboration with Southeast Asian partners, underlining Canberra’s commitment to working with neighbouring states on shared security challenges. As Indonesia is Australia’s closest regional neighbour by land and maritime proximity, closer consultation frameworks are seen as contributing to strategic stability and cooperative responses to evolving threats in the Indo-Pacific.
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