Changing The Relationship Between Australia And Indonesia Over The Years

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The relationship between Australia and Indonesia over the years has changed for many reasons. These reasons are seen throughout time frames that I have chosen. In 1940’s Australia became allies with Indonesia as Indonesia goes through the battle for independence. The second reason of change was when Menzies increased the relationship with Indonesia, making it stronger, this increased trade. The third reason of change was when Paul Keating was the former prime minister, and made the relationship between the countries important. The last reason of change was the asylum seeker factor in the 2000’s and how Kevin Rudd made the Australian and Indonesian relationship somewhat falter. All these factors are what created the relationship of Australia …show more content…

though Australia and Indonesia relations refers to the foreign relations between Australia and Indonesia, which began as early as 1640 between Indigenous Australians and Makassan trepangers from southwest Sulawesi this was not one of the biggest factors, Australia didn’t become “good friends” with Indonesia until mid 1940’s. In 1945 Indonesia proclaimed independence. Australia took a massive part in this. After World War 2 ended, Indonesia's leaders Sukarno and Mohammed Hatta, proclaimed the independence of the Republic of Indonesia on the 17th August 1945 at 10 am though it took more than four years of diplomatic negotiation and at times war between countries before the Indonesian Republic finally gained its independence from the Netherlands in December of 1949. On the 20th of July 1947, the Netherlands stopped negotiating with the Indonesian nationalist leaders and started a planned military offensive against the Republic in Java and Sumatra. Australia took a critical diplomatic move and reported the fight in Indonesia to the United Nations Security Council as a breach of the peace of the UN Charter. This action had immediate results. Australia's action encouraged the United Kingdom and the United States, to take a stance against their European ally, the Netherlands. The Security Council organized a cease-fire on the 1st of August 1947 and both sides came to an agreement. This was one of the first things that created the relationship between Indonesia and Australia. Because of this, Australia started their trade alliance with