Kenan AĞAZADE
AccordingtoTasha Wibawa Indonesia is often presented as one of Australia’s most important neighbours and strategic allies, with formal diplomatic relations between the two nations marking a 71-year milestone last month. “Not just close neighbours — but great friends,” Scott Morrison said during his first international visit as Prime Minister in 2018.
Gary Quinlan, Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, recently told the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club the deep ties between the nations dated back to 1945, when Australia became the “strongest supporter” of Indonesian independence and was the first country to send a diplomatic mission to establish the basis for recognition of the Republic.”No country in South-East Asia is more important to Australia than Indonesia,” Mr Quinlan told the forum. “And only a handful of countries globally match that importance.”
Indonesia’s first president Sukarno also chose Australia to represent his nation in the United Nations negotiations in the lead-up to its independence on December 27 1949. However, the differences between their histories, cultures and economies almost ensures their relationship will be “fraught with the dangers of misunderstandings”, according to former Australian prime minister Paul Keating. Indeed, the relationship stays always stable regardless of different disagreements because of the key and sensitive issues — like capital punishment in the case of the Bali Nine or people smuggling — and veered onto different paths or been derailed altogether as a result.
Here’s a look at the key issues and moments that have strengthened and shaken the relationship in recent times and where it might be heading in the years to come. To signal the importance of Indonesia in Australia’s foreign policy, in August 2018 Australia’s new leader Scott Morrison followed in the steps of his predecessors by immediately travelling to Indonesia for his first overseas trip. “By making my first overseas visit as Prime Minister to Indonesia, I want to make a clear statement about the importance of our relationship,” Mr Morrison said.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull had formed a strong relationship with Indonesian President Joko Widodo over the years, and his ousting from Australian politics caused concern that a landmark free-trade agreement nine years in the making could be jeopardised. “Australia and Indonesia share geography, deep historical ties, a vibrant contemporary relationship and a vision of a peaceful and prosperous region,” Mr Morrison said.
“Our close collaboration across economic, security and strategic domains makes both countries stronger, safer and more prosperous. “It is about relationships, it is about networks, it is about putting our key people in there.” We should not forget that Indonesia is the world’s 16th largest economy, but trade between Australia and Indonesia lags and neither country is in the other’s top 10 trading partners. Australia and Indonesia have a coincidence of views and interests in the strategic outlook of the region.
Moreover, Kristiarto Legowo, Indonesia’s ambassador to Australia, also reiterated the importance of the relationship during 70-year celebrations between the nations at the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra last September. “Indonesia and Australia choose to be friends with each other, and it is a friend in need and friend indeed … friendship in [a] two-way street, not a one-way road,” Mr Legowo said.
Finally, Mr Legowo also underlined the importance of Indonesia and Australia’s joint efforts to face the challenges ahead by quoting an Indonesian proverb, “Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing”, or in English, “Many hands make the workload lighter.”