Australia and Indonesia said Sunday that full military ties between the two countries had been restored, after Indonesia’s military suspended cooperation in January because of “insulting” teaching material found at an Australian base.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull made the announcement alongside Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who arrived in Australia Saturday for his first visit as president.
“President Widodo and I have agreed to full restoration of defense cooperation, training exchanges and activities,” Turnbull said at a news conference in Sydney.
Ties suspended in January
Widodo’s visit to Australia comes less than two months after military ties were suspended, an event that sparked a minor diplomatic spat and led to an apology from Australia’s army chief in February. Military cooperation between the two countries has ranged from joint training and counter-terrorism cooperation to border protection.
The “insulting” material suggested that Indonesia’s Papua province should be independent and mocked the nation’s state ideology.
Indonesia and Australia have a history of patchy ties, but both leaders were keen Sunday to emphasize their commitment to a strong relationship.
“That robust relationship can be established when both countries have respect for each other’s territorial integrity, noninterference into the domestic affairs of each other and the ability to develop a mutually beneficial partnership,” Widodo said.
Trade also discussed
While the primary focus of the visit was on security and economic issues, including the finalization of a bilateral free trade deal by the end of the year, talks touched on tourism, cybersecurity and social links.
Widodo met Australian business leaders Saturday, telling them that investor confidence in Indonesia was strong and reassuring them that Indonesia was a stable country in which to do business.
Following one-on-one talks, Turnbull said tariffs would be cut for Australian sugar and Indonesian pesticides and herbicides. He also praised changes to the export rules for live Australian cattle.
Widodo told The Australian newspaper this week he would like to see joint patrols with Australia in the South China Sea if they did not further inflame tensions with China.
China, which claims almost the entire sea region, irked Indonesia last year by saying the two countries had overlapping claims to waters close to them, an area Indonesia calls the Natuna Sea.
The leaders stopped short of announcing joint patrols Sunday, but stressed the importance of resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance to international law.
“As maritime nations and trading nations, Australia and Indonesia are natural partners with common interests,” Turnbull said.
Collaboration on counter-terrorism, especially the return of foreign fighters from the Syrian and Iraq conflict zone, would continue, Turnbull said.
