JAKARTA - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met in Sydney this week to strengthen relations between the two countries. 

The two leaders agreed to move forward with a new security treaty that will be signed in January 2026.

The treaty will allow Indonesia and Australia to hold regular meetings between top officials to discuss security issues and work together if either country faces a threat. Both leaders said the deal will help keep the region stable and build stronger trust.

The meeting doesn’t announce new migration or border measures, but the strengthened security between the two powerhouse nations could indirectly shape how both governments handle cross-border movement in the region.

“A critical relationship for Australia's defence and security, a growing economic relationship, and of course at its heart, a people to people relationship as well in our region,” said Albanese in a post-meeting press conference with Australian journalists. 

The Indonesia-Australia corridor has long been one of Southeast Asia’s most active migration and education routes. 

Australia hosts more than 100,000 Indonesian-born residents and around 24,000 students, making it the top study destination for Indonesians pursuing higher education abroad. The flow goes both ways as many Australians also travel to Indonesia for business, tourism, and volunteer work. 

Besides security, the meeting also covered cooperation in trade, maritime affairs, and strategic industries. It has been five years since the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) took effect. 

According to Investment and Downstreaming Minister Rosan Roeslani, the state visit also seeks to explore new cooperation in agriculture and livestock, as well as attract Australian investors in key sectors such as healthcare and downstream industries. 

Rosan said trade between the two countries is currently valued at around USD 15 billion, though Indonesia still records a USD 9 billion deficit largely offset by revenue from Australian tourism.