Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has revealed Australia’s first steps with crucial allies Indonesia and the US as Anthony Albanese is expected to head overseas in the coming days.
The Prime Minister said his first trip after winning the federal election would be to Indonesia to “signal” the importance of the defence and security relationship with the region.
He is expected to land in Jakarta to meet with President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday – a day after his government was sworn in.
Senator Wong said there was no other country more important to Australia than Indonesia.
“The first trip the Prime Minister is making is to Indonesia, and I’m sure there will be other engagements that are settled in the weeks and months to come, including with the United States,” she told Today.
“Obviously, the first trip being to Indonesia sends a signal, just as his first trip last term was to Indonesia too.
“(The) region matters to Australia and we’re very focused on what we can continue to do to keep strengthening that relationship.”
The Indonesian-Russian relationship was a focal point during the election campaign because of security concerns.
A military intelligence firm reported that Russia was looking to base long-range aircraft at an air force base in Papua, the most eastern Indonesian province.
However, the Indonesian defence minister said that no such Russian base would be allowed.
Senator Wong said the relationship between Australia and Indonesia had been ongoing since the time of former prime minister Robert Menzies in the 1960s.
“What we have to focus on is what we do, and that’s what we’ve done,” she added.
“We’ve got, for the first time ever, a defence agreement with Indonesia. We have stronger economic ties, we work much more closely diplomatically, internationally.”
When asked about relations with the US and President Donald Trump, Senator Wong reiterated that the “usual rules don’t apply”.
“It’s a different approach, and we will take that step by step,” she said.
“We recognise that President Trump and the United States envisage a very different role for America in the world.
“There’s obviously changes in policy and we’ll have to keep dealing with that, and I think it’s very important for us to stay clear and steady on what is our national interest, what is in Australia’s national interest,” Senator Wong said.
“We are a sovereign nation and we make decisions about what advances our
interests.”
She confirmed that Australia would continue to engage about ongoing trade issues.
Mr Albanese is expected to attend the G7 leaders meeting in Alberta next month, opening up an opportunity to meet with Mr Trump in either Canada or the US.
https://thewest.com.au/news/penny-wong-reveals-australias-first-steps-with-crucial-allies-as-albo-heads-to-indonesia-c-18687272
