Australian personnel and members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) met in Jakarta this month during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2025 to strengthen cooperation on regional security priorities.
They focused on improving mutual understanding of the legal framework in which maritime operations are conducted, and advancing the gender, peace and security (GPS) agenda.
Discussions explored practical measures such as understanding the legal framework in which maritime operations are conducted, and building digital resilience.
Command and legal officers considered the application of the principles established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to real situations such as passage rights for warships and maritime law enforcement.
Australian and Indonesian personnel sought a mutual understanding of their respective approaches to these issues, and others, to improve the quality of interaction and establish a firm basis for future cooperative engagement, particularly as activity across the region becomes more complex.
'Cooperation between neighbours is essential for maintaining stability in that domain.'
Royal Australian Navy Commodore Peter Bowers, representing the Indo-Pacific Centre for Military Law, said Australia and Indonesia had a shared interest in improving their understanding of the legal framework applicable in the maritime domain.
"Cooperation between neighbours is essential for maintaining stability in that domain," Commodore Bowers said.
GPS and women, peace and security (WPS) discussions focused on how gender perspectives enhanced decision-making, humanitarian assistance, disaster response and overall operational effectiveness.
The WPS agenda is a United Nations framework that emphasises cooperation and inclusion as foundations for stability. Participants explored practical ways to incorporate diverse perspectives into planning and operations to strengthen resilience and improve outcomes.
Gender adviser Major Stuart Gomm said if your plan did not acknowledge 50 per cent of the population, then you were working with only half a plan.
Cyber resilience and faith-based engagement activities also formed part of the broader Jakarta program, which highlighted the growing alignment between the ADF and TNI on issues central to regional security.
Indo-Pacific Endeavour is Australia's flagship regional engagement activity.
