When Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) signed the historic Pukpuk Defense Cooperation Agreement on October 10, 2025, the eyes of the region turned toward Jakarta. The pact—symbolically named after the Pukpuk, or crocodile, a creature deeply embedded in PNG’s traditional culture—signaled a new phase in regional defense collaboration. But for Indonesia, whose easternmost provinces share a land border with PNG, the announcement carried deeper implications.
In an era of shifting alliances and emerging great-power competition across the Pacific, Indonesia’s reaction was being closely watched. Would Jakarta view the agreement as an encroachment on its sovereignty or as a step toward collective security?
A Calm but Firm Response from Jakarta
Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded swiftly but diplomatically. In an official statement quoted by ABC Indonesia and Kompas, the Indonesian government affirmed that it respected the sovereign right of both Australia and PNG to establish bilateral defense cooperation. However, it also emphasized that any partnership in the region must respect Indonesia’s territorial integrity, particularly over Papua.
“The Government of Indonesia respects the sovereignty of every nation to engage in cooperation that serves mutual interests. However, we underline the importance of ensuring that such agreements do not affect Indonesia’s territorial integrity,” the statement read.
The tone was deliberate—neither confrontational nor indifferent. Indonesia, through its Foreign Ministry, reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and mutual respect in the Pacific.
Diplomatic analysts noted that this response marked a continuation of Indonesia’s long-standing foreign policy approach: “bebas aktif,” or independent and active diplomacy. The principle allows Indonesia to engage pragmatically with global powers while maintaining regional balance.
Australia and PNG Reassure: ‘We Respect Indonesia’s Sovereignty’
In turn, both Australia and Papua New Guinea moved quickly to assure Jakarta that the Pukpuk Defense Agreement posed no threat to Indonesia’s sovereignty or its provinces in Papua.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles stated that the agreement focused purely on strengthening defense capabilities, humanitarian assistance, and border security cooperation between Canberra and Port Moresby. “This is about building resilience, trust, and capacity between our two nations. It does not involve or target any third country,” Marles said in a joint press briefing, as reported by ABC News.
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape echoed similar sentiments, affirming that PNG’s foreign policy remained rooted in respect for neighborly relations—particularly with Indonesia. “We have a strong relationship with our neighbor Indonesia. The Pukpuk Agreement will never be used to undermine their sovereignty,” Marape stated firmly.
For Indonesia, these reassurances were crucial. The border between Papua Province and Western Papua Province and PNG spans over 760 kilometers of rugged terrain, making it both a logistical and geopolitical frontier. Jakarta has long been sensitive to any external activities near the area, given historical separatist tensions in Papua.
Behind the Pukpuk Pact: Regional Geopolitics in Motion
The Pukpuk Defense Agreement was the culmination of years of talks between Canberra and Port Moresby, aimed at deepening security ties amid growing Chinese influence in the Pacific. The pact enables joint military training, intelligence sharing, border monitoring, and maritime security cooperation—a structure reminiscent of Australia’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy.
According to West Papua Voice, the agreement reflects Australia’s intent to secure stability across the Pacific archipelago while ensuring PNG’s defense capabilities remain aligned with democratic partners. However, analysts warned that such regional alignments must tread carefully, particularly near sensitive areas like Indonesia’s Papua region.
Indonesia, for its part, continues to pursue a delicate balancing act—strengthening its defense diplomacy with countries like Australia, the United States, and China, while preventing any perception of interference in its internal affairs.
Papua’s Strategic Relevance
Papua’s location gives it an outsized strategic importance. It borders the Pacific, serves as a bridge between Southeast Asia and Melanesia, and hosts significant natural resources. Indonesia’s ongoing infrastructure and development programs across Papua—ranging from Trans-Papua highways to new provincial administrations—underscore its intention to strengthen integration and stability.
Therefore, any defense arrangement involving neighboring countries like PNG naturally draws Jakarta’s attention. As Indonesian political observer Dr. I Gede Wahyu Prabowo told Kompas Global, “The sensitivity lies not in the pact itself, but in the perception. Indonesia wants to ensure that Papua remains off-limits to any form of external influence, military or otherwise.”
That perspective resonates strongly with Jakarta’s historical stance. Since joining the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) as an associate member in 2015, Indonesia has sought to build closer ties with Pacific nations while combating separatist narratives often amplified abroad.
Bridging Trust Through Dialogue
Despite these underlying tensions, the Pukpuk Agreement also opens an opportunity for greater trilateral dialogue among Indonesia, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.
Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized Indonesia’s willingness to maintain open communication channels. “We continue to prioritize dialogue and transparency in regional cooperation. Indonesia supports all efforts that contribute to peace and security in the Pacific, as long as they respect national sovereignty,” Sugiono said in Jakarta.
This measured diplomacy has earned Indonesia quiet praise from observers who feared a more nationalistic backlash. Instead, Jakarta’s approach demonstrates maturity and confidence in handling sensitive geopolitical shifts without resorting to public confrontation.
Australia and Indonesia, in fact, already share a Defense Cooperation Arrangement (DCA) that facilitates joint military exercises, counterterrorism collaboration, and disaster response training. The existence of that framework gives Jakarta additional assurance that Canberra’s engagement in PNG will likely remain within the bounds of established norms.
Regional Analysts: A Step Toward a More Inclusive Pacific
Regional analysts argue that this episode could pave the way for a more inclusive Pacific security architecture, one that includes Southeast Asia as a vital partner.
Dr. Maria Tavur, a Pacific security researcher from the University of Port Moresby, explained that “Indonesia’s role in the Pacific is often underappreciated. The country is not just a bystander—it shares history, geography, and increasingly, security interests with us.”
She suggested that collaborative mechanisms involving Indonesia, PNG, and Australia could lead to joint disaster responses, environmental security operations, and anti-smuggling patrols in the borderlands—initiatives that align with Jakarta’s own maritime vision under the Global Maritime Fulcrum policy.
The Broader Context: Balancing China’s Influence
Another dimension of the pact is the strategic competition with China in the Pacific. Australia’s renewed engagement through the Pukpuk Agreement comes as Beijing increases its presence in countries like the Solomon Islands and Fiji.
For Indonesia, which maintains friendly ties with both China and Australia, neutrality remains key. Analysts from West Papua Voice highlighted that Jakarta will likely use its position to advocate for regional balance and mutual respect, avoiding polarization.
“The Indonesian response shows that Jakarta understands the geopolitical realities. Rather than confrontation, it chooses cooperation grounded in sovereignty,” wrote the outlet’s editorial.
Looking Ahead: Stability Through Understanding
As the dust settles on the signing of the Pukpuk Defense Agreement, what stands out most is the tone of restraint across all parties. For once, a major defense pact near Papua did not spark diplomatic tension or nationalist rhetoric. Instead, it became an example of how regional players can manage sensitivities through communication and trust.
Indonesia’s stance—rooted in respect, vigilance, and strategic awareness—reflects a nation confident in its sovereignty. Meanwhile, Australia and PNG’s reassurances underscore a growing maturity in Pacific diplomacy, where mutual respect and regional peace prevail over rivalry.
Moving forward, the challenge lies in ensuring that the pact strengthens—not divides—the Pacific neighborhood. If handled wisely, the Pukpuk Agreement could become a model for cooperative security, bridging Southeast Asia and the Pacific under a shared vision of stability.
Conclusion
Indonesia’s reaction to the Australia–Papua New Guinea defense pact stands as a testament to diplomatic restraint and strategic balance. Rather than viewing the Pukpuk Agreement as a threat, Jakarta chose to emphasize principles of mutual respect, sovereignty, and peaceful coexistence.
By maintaining open dialogue and confidence in its national integrity, Indonesia reaffirms its place as a responsible regional actor—one capable of navigating the complexities of 21st-century geopolitics with wisdom.
In the end, the story of the Pukpuk Pact is not one of confrontation but of convergence—a reminder that in the vast and diverse Pacific, respect remains the true foundation of peace.