Insight: Taking Indonesia-Australia relations to the next level

There is no doubt that Indonesia-Australia bilateral relations have improved tremendously over the last decade. Within that short time-span, the relationship has encouragingly matured. Common problems and a sense of shared destiny have brought the two countries closer together.

While problems and differences persist, as in every bilateral relationship, both Indonesia and Australia have not allowed these differences to obstruct efforts to focus on common interests. At the same time, both sides have worked tirelessly to narrow their differences and manage whatever problems they may have.

For Indonesia and Australia, an improved relationship between the two countries is an absolute necessity. For Indonesia, Australia is an important partner in development. A close relationship with Canberra also constitutes an important facet in Indonesia’s new foreign policy activism, which aims to balance multilateral engagement with greater nurturing of bilateral relations with key partners.

Australia’s place in such new activism is central, for obvious reasons. For Australia, its relationship with Indonesia is also of significant importance. Indonesia and Australia share mutual economic, political, security and strategic interests. In other words, for Indonesia and Australia, working together for a deeper and closer bilateral relationship is not an option. It is an obligation.

Such imperatives in foreign policies of both countries have been manifested clearly in the nature of bilateral cooperation. The trade relationship between the two countries has expanded, and through a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (AI-CEPA), the potential for trade and investment is expected to expand further.

Indonesia and Australia have also worked closely and successfully in combating terrorism. In the broader security arena, the Lombok Treaty provides a more solid foundation for security cooperation between the two countries. It is also important to note that Indonesia and Australia are cooperating closely in managing new regional and global challenges such as climate change and energy.

What has been achieved over the last decade really provides grounds for optimism. As the relationship matures, problems and differences are no longer tackled through mutual antagonism. As the relationship expands and deepens, dialogue and negotiation have now become the main mechanisms for dispute resolution. Civility and friendship have begun to become the norms, rather than the exception, in the management of the bilateral relationship.

However, there is always room for improvement. Both Jakarta and Canberra have worked hard to establish a comprehensive framework for cooperation, and to strengthen a solid foundation for a closer and deeper relationship in the years to come. What both countries need to do now is to take this bilateral relationship to the next level.

Exploring ways by which the bilateral relationship can be elevated into the next stage constitutes the main theme of the Australia-Indonesia Dialogue (IAD) this week in Jakarta. This dialogue, conceived by the leaders of both countries, is meant to provide a platform for both sides to discuss how the relationship between the two countries can be intensified.

It is important to note that while the idea and initiative came for this dialogue came from the leaders of the two governments, it is predicated upon the belief that the role of non-state actors is central to the deepening of bilateral relations. That is why the dialogue is being implemented as a second-track process, with key participants drawn from the business community, academia, the media, the political arena, youth and community leaders.

The dialogue will also discuss new areas of cooperation, new ways to expand the relationship, and new mechanisms to encourage and ensure greater public participation. It will also address the challenges both countries face in the changing regional and global environment. In that respect, this dialogue will discuss aspects of bilateral economic cooperation and how the two countries can cooperate to address regional and global challenges.

The road toward the next stage in bilateral relations also needs a new focus. That is why the dialogue will also focus on how the two countries can expand cooperation in innovation, science and technology. The opportunity is there for the two countries to take this bilateral relationship to the next level through greater cooperation in these areas.

The future lies in the mastery of innovation, science and technology. Indonesia and Australia will be better prepared to face the challenges ahead if they both work more closely in this area.

The writer is the executive director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta.