Looking south for friendship

Looking south for friendship

Australia has made many overtures to Indonesia over the years -- indeed, John Howard has made 11 visits there since becoming Prime Minister in 1996 -- but never have they been so generously reciprocated. (President Susilo Bambang) Yudhoyono symbolically realigned his country's foreign policy yesterday (Monday) when he said Indonesia needed to look south, towards us, as well as north towards its Asian neighbors.

In the words of the joint declaration on economic and security cooperation signed by Yudhoyono and Howard, the humanitarian work of Australian Defense Force personnel following the tsunami marked a "psychological breakthrough" for the two countries.

While Australia has often quite legitimately construed itself as a potential bridge between Indonesia and the West, Yudhoyono now sees Indonesia as our bridge to East Asia. This promises immediate economic advantage if Indonesia can advance our claim to a seat at the East Asia Summit to be held in Malaysia in December.

There is often a yawning gap between diplomatic-speak and reality. But when Yudhoyono hailed a "new era" in Australia- Indonesia relations, he was talking about a defining relationship for both countries that has come further in the past three years than during the previous 30. -- The Australian, Sydney