By Greta Nabbs-Keller*
One might assume that Australia’s announcement of a significant increase in defence funding and move to a more assertive defence posture would be welcomed by Jakarta. After all, as the old proverb goes, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”, and Indonesia certainly has its own challenges with China, seen starkly in Beijing’s increasing encroachment into Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
But in reality, Jakarta’s response to the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan is likely to be more complex and will require deft management by Australian policymakers.
