Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Indonesia, Australia Outline Morotai Joint Training Base and Trilateral Frameworks With Japan, PNG

The partnership is shifting from a new treaty to concrete steps including shared facilities, an embedded officer and expanded partner access.

Overview

  • Defence ministers in Jakarta announced plans to develop trilateral security arrangements with Japan and, separately, with Papua New Guinea.
  • Indonesia identified Morotai Island as a candidate site to upgrade World War II-era installations into a joint training base for land and sea exercises.
  • An Indonesian colonel will embed as deputy commander of Australia’s 1st Brigade in Darwin from early next year to strengthen day-to-day interoperability.
  • Both governments said they will begin intelligence sharing under the expanded cooperation, with specific mechanisms yet to be detailed.
  • Jakarta said Morotai would be accessible to partners such as the Philippines and Singapore, while a separate training facility with Singapore in North Kalimantan is proceeding.