Named as an enemy: Indonesia’s uneasy Aukus moment

AI Summary

A former Australian defense official’s remarks labeling Indonesia as a potential aggressive adversary in the Aukus inquiry have drawn criticism for potentially undermining diplomatic relations. Analysts warn these comments could revive old suspicions amidst efforts to enhance security ties between Jakarta and Canberra.

A former Australian official’s use of a hypothetical “aggressive Indonesia” to make the case for Aukus at a public inquiry has been called “clumsy diplomacy” by analysts, who say the comments risk reviving old suspicions as Jakarta and Canberra try to strengthen security ties. Michael Pezzullo, a former deputy secretary of strategy in Australia’s defence department, made the remarks in testimony on September 2 to the Aukus Public Inquiry, an independent, crowdfunded review of the trilateral...