Australia Says China Anxiety, Geography Driving Closer Indonesia Ties

Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin together with his Australian counterpart in Jakarta on June 5, 2025. Image via @sjafriesjams.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said Thursday that security anxiety over China was partly driving deepening ties with Indonesia in a region riven by rivalry between Beijing and Washington.

His visit to meet counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in Jakarta came weeks after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made Indonesia his first foreign trip following his landslide election win.

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by Agence France-Presse

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