News Story: Australia-Indonesia FTA may be signed "by end of year - Australian minister

CANBERRA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Trade Minister Steve Ciobo on Wednesday declared Indonesia as his "number one trade priority" for 2017, saying the government is confident of signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with Indonesia before the end of the year.

Speaking on local television, Ciobo said negotiations surrounding the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership (IA-CEPA) were progressing smoothly after leaders from both nations met at the G20 summit in Hamburg earlier this month.

"Indonesia is my number one trade priority and I'm putting a lot of focus on doing this deal," Ciobo told Sky News.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Indonesia, Australia agree to complete CEPA in late 2017

Hamburg (VNA) – Indonesia and Australia will complete the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) by the end of year, said Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo and Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The leaders made the statement during their talks on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany on July 7.

The IA-CEPA will improve the current free trade agreement of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia, and New Zealand, said the officials.

It is also hoped to boost bilateral trade and investment cooperation, as well as support Australia’s regional economic integration.

Read the full story at VietnamPlus

News Story: Australia, Indonesia agree to resume military cooperation

CANBERRA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Australia and Indonesia have agreed to resume all military cooperation, following a fracture in the defence relationship earlier this year, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced on Sunday.

Following a series of meetings with visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo, a joint statement released on Sunday said both leaders had agreed to "the full restoration of defence cooperation, training exchanges, and activities."

"Our common interests mean we will be much stronger if we work together in our rapidly changing region," the joint statement said.

"Risks and uncertainties only make it more critical we have a strong partnership that enables us to tackle challenges and seize opportunities together."

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Indonesian President begins official visit to Australia

Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived in Sydney on February 25, beginning his first visit to Australia since he took office in late 2014.

The focus of the two-day visit is to discuss measures to boost bilateral cooperation in a wide range of fields such as tourism, mining, infrastructure development, agriculture, food security, cyber security, counter-terrorism and finalisation of a trade agreement.

Read the full story at VietnamPlus

News Story: Indonesian President Widodo visits Australia

SYDNEY, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived in Sydney on Saturday with First Lady Iriana Widodo for a two-day visit.

Relations between Australia and Indonesia have been strained following a high-profile incident in early 2015 when two Australians were executed in Indonesia for drug trafficking.

Following the deaths, the Australian government removed its embassy staff from the country, but since then moves have been made by both sides to repair ties and boost trade.

Read the full story at Xinhua

AUS: Minister for Defence statement on Australia, Indonesia defence relations

Late last year concerns were raised by an Indonesian TNI officer about some teaching materials and remarks at an Army language training facility in Australia. 

The Australian Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, wrote to his Indonesian counterpart, General Gatot Nurmantyo, giving an undertaking that this matter would be addressed seriously and we would inquire into issues raised. 

The Australian Army has looked into the serious concerns that were raised and the investigation into the incident is being finalised. 

Indonesia has informed Australia that defence cooperation would be suspended.  As a result, some interaction between the two Defence organisations has been postponed until the matter is resolved.  Cooperation in other areas is continuing. 

News Story: Indonesia suspends military cooperation with Australia

Indonesia said Wednesday it has suspended military cooperation with Australia, reportedly due to training materials deemed offensive, in a fresh flare-up of tensions between the neighbours.

Cooperation including military exercises and education and exchange programmes were put on hold last month, said Indonesian military spokesman Wuryanto.

"Military cooperation with Australian forces has been suspended temporarily due to technical matters," the spokesman, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told AFP.

Indonesian newspaper Kompas said it came after an instructor from Indonesia's special forces found training materials he thought were disrespectful towards his country and armed forces at an Australian academy during an exchange programme.

Wuryanto refused to confirm this, saying only that the suspension was due to several problems.

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

News Story: F-22s Coming To Australia Next Year - PACOM’s Adm. Harris

F-22 Raptor (Image: Wiki Commons)

By COLIN CLARK

SYDNEY: While it will be a short deployment, Australia and the United States have agreed to deploy America’s most advanced fighter next year as part of the Enhanced Air Cooperation (EAC) Initiative that has seen B-2 bombers and other advanced American aircraft deployed to the lucky country.

Adm. Harry Harris, head of Pacific Command, disclosed the news during a Q and A session at the Lowy Institute, a foreign policy thinktank here. Harris, fresh from a short visit to the seemingly always turbulent island state of Papua New Guinea, did not disclose how many F-22s would fly to the Royal Australian Air Force‘s base in Tindal.

While the US Marines have gotten most of the press for their now sort of regular six-month deployments to the northern port city of Darwin, 2017 marks a significant ramp-up in the air portion of America’s military commitment to — arguably — our closest ally.

Read the full story at Breaking Defense