Security pact brings together RI, Australia

Security pact brings together RI, Australia

From the Indonesian view, there are at least five points of long-term substantive interest in the agreement.

By Ikrar Nusa Bhakti

The recent signing of the Agreement on Maintaining Security between Indonesia and Australia was a historic event for the two countries. For Indonesia, it was the first time since its proclamation of independence 50 years ago that it has engaged in a security arrangement with another country.

Even though foreign ministers Ali Alatas and Senator Gareth Evans said that the agreement is not a defense pact, it is unsurprising that some quarters in Indonesia and in the region are skeptical about it. This is legitimate, because for half a century Indonesia had rejected any security arrangement with another country because of its independent foreign policy doctrine and because it was a founding member of the non-aligned movement.

For Australia, the agreement has a very special meaning, because for almost a decade it had tried to persuade Indonesia to enter into a Joint Declaration of Principles, similar to the agreement between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Indonesia always rejected such agreements because they partly related to security matters.

Prime Minister Paul Keating can be justifiably pleased that his government has been able to establish the last of the four pillars of the Australia-Indonesia relationship, that is a defense/security pillar. The three other pillars are: first, political/diplomatic, which were developed through an inter- personal relationship between Keating and President Soeharto, and among other Australian and Indonesian policy-makers; second, an economic pillar, through regular meetings of economic ministers as provided for in the Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum; and third, a sociocultural pillar through the establishment of the Australia-Indonesia Institute. All this has proved that Prime Minister Keating has been consistent with his statement in 1994 that no other country is more important to Australia than Indonesia.

Australia and Indonesia have always appeared to each other as two strange neighbors, with different cultures, languages, religions, ethnicities, political, legal and social systems, and historical backgrounds. Because of its geographical proximity, Indonesia has always been seen by Australia both as a "buffer state" and a potential threat. Consequently, Australia has always looked for stability in Indonesia and in an Indonesian government which takes a responsible view of its role in Southeast Asia and a constructive approach to its relationship with Australia.

A security agreement between Indonesia and Australia is very important for the two countries, particularly for Australia. As written in the 1994 Defense White Paper, Defending Australia, Australia's defense relationship with Indonesia is its most important in the region and a key element in Australia's approach to regional defense engagement. It is underpinned by an increasing awareness of the two countries' shared strategic interests and perceptions.

The political and security developments in the Asia-Pacific region after the Cold War are still uncertain. The decision by the United States to reduce its military presence in East Asia has worried regional states that countries such as Japan, China and India might become dominant powers in the region.

From the Indonesian perspective, there are at least five points of long-term substantive interest in the security agreement with Australia. First and foremost, it emphasizes to the government and the wider Australian community that Indonesia has never and will never be a threat to Australia's security. Second, it is also a symbolic statement that Indonesia perceives Australia as an important neighbor in the southern-most region. Third, Australia is perceived as a friendly developed country, particularly for military training and technical cooperation. Since the early 1990s, Indonesia has faced difficulties in sending its military officers for training to the U.S., especially since the U.S. government stopped its International Military Education and Training program for Indonesia in 1992. Since then, more and more Indonesian military officers have been sent to Australia.

Fourth, it seems that Indonesia wants some benefits from Australia's advanced defense industry. It is highly likely that in the near future Indonesia and Australia will co-develop such military hardware as frigates and submarines, which are very important for Indonesia as an archipelagic state. Fifth, Indonesia needs Australia's diplomatic support to reduce anti- Indonesian sentiments both in Australia and in the international fora regarding East Timor, Irian Jaya and other human rights issues.

The security agreement between Australia and Indonesia was designed to formalize the defense relationship between the two countries which has developed and diversified strongly in recent years. Defense co-operation continues to be based on a clear understanding of one another's strategic perception and priorities. It will never replace the defense pacts between Australia and other countries in the region, such as the Five Power Defense Arrangements (Australia, Great Britain, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand) or Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. pact.

The new agreement will have a positive impact on Southeast Asia because the two countries have committed themselves to maintaining regional stability. The countries in Southeast Asia have no need to worry about this agreement because Indonesia and Australia are not building a military alliance in order to confront common enemies. In reality, the agreement is a key element for Australia to become engaged in Southeast Asian regional security.

Australia is diversifying its defense relationship with Indonesia and the other ASEAN countries from traditional defense co-operation programs to providing a higher priority to strategic exchanges, combined military exercises, logistics agreements, science and industry co-operation, co-operative equipment acquisition and training co-operation. In other words, Australia will replace traditional defense co-operation programs of the donor-recipient kind with activities which are based on an equal relationship.

Finally, it seems that the security agreement is based on political and economic considerations rather than on purely military considerations.

Dr. Ikrar Nusa Bhakti is a researcher at the Center for Political and Regional Studies, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Jakarta.