Australia Extends Lattice-Model Security Partnerships Across the Indo-Pacific, Positioning for a Potential U.S.-China Confrontation

On March 12, 2026, negotiations took place in Jakarta between Australian Minister for Defense Richard Marles and his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

Following the meeting, the parties announced their readiness to begin talks on establishing new trilateral defense partnerships: Australia–Indonesia–Japan and Australia–Indonesia–Papua New Guinea. The foundation for these initiatives is the Australia–Indonesia Joint Security Agreement concluded in February.

Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said that Jakarta will begin creating an international military training center on Morotai Island and modernizing its defense infrastructure, pending successful negotiations. The facility is expected to host military personnel from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore.