Indonesia, Australia, and India: Overcoming barriers to trilateral partnership
Indonesia, Australia, and India—three influential middle powers in the Indo-Pacific—are increasingly drawn together by shared interests amid shifting regional dynamics, declining confidence in US leadership, and concerns over China’s assertiveness.
Although the three countries have explored trilateral cooperation through official meetings and multilateral platforms, progress has stalled due to competing strategic visions, bureaucratic inertia, and differing threat perceptions, particularly toward China. To move beyond symbolism, the report argues for a shift toward functional cooperation grounded in shared objectives and mutual respect for Indonesia’s principles of non-alignment and ASEAN centrality.
Existing bilateral mechanisms—such as coordinated maritime patrols and defence technology collaboration—should be scaled up trilaterally, with a focus on pragmatic areas like maritime security, naval medical support, and supply chain resilience. Ultimately, the partnership should serve as a flexible platform for enhancing regional autonomy, leadership, and interoperability, offering a middle path between major power blocs while helping to shape the Indo-Pacific’s evolving order.