Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia and Australia strengthened their cooperation on law and security during the 12th Indonesia-Australia Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) on Law and Security on Thursday, October 22.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman said the meeting resulted in a joint communique between Indonesia and Australia.
The shared commitment includes, among other things, strengthening strategic partnerships, enhancing maritime security, combating terrorism, eradicating transnational crime, bolstering border security, and ensuring cybersecurity.
"This document serves as a foundation for both countries to follow up on the outcomes of the meeting through more concrete cooperation, particularly in addressing various legal and security challenges of mutual concern," he said, as quoted by ANTARA.
According to Dudung, the cooperation with Australia is important for strengthening coordination, enhancing capacity, and addressing increasingly complex security challenges.
"This challenge cannot be resolved by any single country alone; rather, it requires close communication, coordination, and cooperation," he said.
He hopes the meeting will result in more than just agreements on paper and that it will be followed up with concrete actions that benefit public security, as well as the interests of both nations and the region.
Meanwhile, Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke said he discussed several issues during the meeting, including organized crime, such as scam centers.
According to Tony, cooperation between the two countries is essential to break the chain of this type of crime. Additionally, cybersecurity challenges were discussed.
Tony said Indonesia and Australia must bring their best capabilities to bear in addressing cybersecurity.
He said the focus should remain on leveraging cutting-edge technology and deploying the best available capabilities, supported by a partnership that continues to deepen and a friendship that grows stronger each year.
He believes this meeting will further strengthen the sovereignty of both countries in the realms of law and security.
Tony said the meeting had strengthened the security of both societies, enhancing the safety and protection of the people of Indonesia and Australia.
The 7th Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Security (SRM) will be held on Friday, October 23, and will be attended by eight countries. This event is part of a series of events.
The forum provided an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation in addressing threats such as terrorism and transnational crime while building a safer, more stable region.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2122104/indonesia-australia-strengthen-cooperation-on-law-and-securit