Odd man out: Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto (right) talks with Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi (second right) and their Australian counterparts, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds (left) and Foreign Minister Marise Payne, during a press conference on the sidelines of The 6th Indonesia — Australia Foreign and Defence Ministers’ 2+2 Meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Friday. The meeting discussed various partnerships between the two countries, such as in the field of maritime affairs, counterterrorism, peacekeeping, cybertechnology and disaster mitigation.(JP/Zul Trio Anggono)

The Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) concluded Friday with a message of inclusiveness, with women’s empowerment emerging as a key theme over the two days of international dialogue.

The theme even continued into the annual two-plus-two (2+2) meeting between Indonesia and Australia, where Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto experienced for himself how it felt to be the only man in the room.

Prabowo was accompanied by Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, while Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds represented Australia at the table in Bali.

Conducted on the sidelines of the 12th BDF, this year’s 2+2 meeting was the first time foreign and defense ministers from both sides have sat down together following elections in both countries earlier this year. The 2+2 format itself is in its sixth iteration, with the last meeting being held in Sydney in March last year.

Over two hours of talks, Indonesia and Australia sought new ways to deepen their diplomatic and defense relationships, including through plans to deploy a joint peacekeeping force and explore trilateral maritime exercises with countries in the Indo-Pacific.

Retno said a number of agreements were reached on counterterrorism, disaster mitigation and cybersecurity cooperation — areas in which the two countries already enjoy substantial bilateral collaboration.

“Indonesia and Australia are partners for continued peace, stability and prosperity in the region. We have a comprehensive strategic partnership and agreed to initiate the plan of action for it,” the foreign minister said as she delivered a joint press statement with her fellow ministers.

The decision to upgrade Indonesia-Australia ties from a comprehensive partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership in August 2018 was widely considered a breakthrough for future relations, with the two countries focussed on agenda items as varied as economic cooperation and regional security.

Both sides also agreed to increase collaboration with other countries in the Pacific, particularly in hopes of addressing pressing matters such as women’s empowerment and climate change.

Payne said the two countries played a critical role in promoting prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. “Because we share one of the longest maritime borders in the world, we are natural maritime partners,” she said.

Australia’s top diplomat — who held the defense portfolio in the previous administration — also underlined the two countries' close cooperation on counterterrorism “in all its forms”. She said that countering extremism and radicalization of individuals online was now a “key battleground”.

In the future, Indonesia and Australia’s planned codeployment of peacekeepers will be an “exciting new chapter” for the countries’ defense relationship, Reynolds said, noting that Indonesia was a top 10 contributor to United Nations peacekeeping missions.

The four ministers also used the occasion to discuss future cooperation that will involve more women, including by mainstreaming women’s participation as peacekeepers.

This year’s 2+2 meeting concluded the flurry of side meetings Indonesia hosted on the sidelines of the BDF, which forwarded the message that inclusiveness is a cornerstone of democracy. The importance of women's empowerment was not lost on Prabowo.

When asked by a reporter how it felt to be flanked by three female ministers, Prabowo simply replied that it was a sign of the times. “I think it goes to show how the role of women in the 21st century is inching toward [gender] equality. I have seen glimpses of our foreign minister being quite a firm figure, which I really respect. [...] We should be proud to have such an amazing female foreign minister,” he said.

During the meeting, Prabowo raised a number of different points, including cooperation on maritime security, peacekeeper training and countering transnational crime.

Separately, Golkar Party lawmaker Meutya Hafid reiterated the importance of including women in the democratic process in her speech to close the annual BDF gathering.

“Recognition of the principle of equality of political rights and equity between women and men begins with the belief that the democratic state needs to facilitate all voices of people from various social backgrounds,” she said. That goal, she pointed out, required the participation of women in decision-making on all issues affecting their lives and their communities.

Meutya is the first woman to chair the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs and Defense Commission. (tjs)