Defense Relations Between Australia And Indonesia In The Post-cold War Era: (contributions In Military Studies)
by Bilveer Singh /
2002 / English / PDF
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Recent years have seen dramatic shifts in the nature of
Australian-Indonesian relations, and this in turn has had a great
impact on the strategic partnership that had gradually come into
existence between the two regional powers. Against the backdrop
of rapid strategic, political, economic, social, and
technological changes occurring on a global scale, Australian
foreign policy efforts at cooperation with its largest and
nearest Asian neighbor have changed as well—largely as a result
of domestic political considerations. Reaching a high point under
Prime Minister Keating, defense relations soured considerably and
suddenly after 1999. Singh provides a non-partisan account of the
shift from partnership to cold peace and an examination of how it
has affected the bilateral, regional, and global security
environment.
Recent years have seen dramatic shifts in the nature of
Australian-Indonesian relations, and this in turn has had a great
impact on the strategic partnership that had gradually come into
existence between the two regional powers. Against the backdrop
of rapid strategic, political, economic, social, and
technological changes occurring on a global scale, Australian
foreign policy efforts at cooperation with its largest and
nearest Asian neighbor have changed as well—largely as a result
of domestic political considerations. Reaching a high point under
Prime Minister Keating, defense relations soured considerably and
suddenly after 1999. Singh provides a non-partisan account of the
shift from partnership to cold peace and an examination of how it
has affected the bilateral, regional, and global security
environment.
The Indonesian public and political elite have become hostile
toward Australia as a result of her perceived role in the birth
of an independent East Timor. Indonesians are also increasingly
suspicious of Australian intensions toward their own country,
with many believing that Canberra would like to repeat its East
Timor success in Papua, thereby leading to the disintegration of
Indonesia itself. John Howard's pro-Western policies are also
viewed as a return to Australian projection of itself as a
Western outpost on the fringes of Asia. As the strategic
cooperation between the two nations has faltered, it has had
tremendous implications for the defense and security outlook of
both powers. The world cannot afford to ignore this possible
threat to regional stability.
The Indonesian public and political elite have become hostile
toward Australia as a result of her perceived role in the birth
of an independent East Timor. Indonesians are also increasingly
suspicious of Australian intensions toward their own country,
with many believing that Canberra would like to repeat its East
Timor success in Papua, thereby leading to the disintegration of
Indonesia itself. John Howard's pro-Western policies are also
viewed as a return to Australian projection of itself as a
Western outpost on the fringes of Asia. As the strategic
cooperation between the two nations has faltered, it has had
tremendous implications for the defense and security outlook of
both powers. The world cannot afford to ignore this possible
threat to regional stability.
