Australia and Indonesia are tied together by geography — but how well do we really understand each other? Despite being close neighbours, relations between Canberra and Jakarta are often uneasy, marked by cooperation, competition, and occasional mistrust.

In this episode of The Focus, Dr. Gatra Priyandita (Australian Strategic Policy Institute) joins Dr. John Bruni to unpack one of the most important — yet least understood — relationships in our region. From trade, migration, and defence, to cultural ties and political tensions

Show Notes:

Contact Gatra

X: @GPriyandita

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gatra-priyandita/ 

ASPI: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/dr-gatra-priyandita/ 

 Gatra’s Publications
Priyandita,Silence as strategy: Southeast Asia and China’s persistent cyber campaigns, ASPI, Canberra, 01/09/2025.
Hogeveen, G. Priyandita & J. Corera, Curbing the cost of cybersecurity fragmentation: an agenda for harmonisation across the Indo-Pacific, ASPI, Canberra, 28/08/2025.

(eds.) J. Corera & M. Opatha,  Hyperscale cloud and shared security in the Indo-Pacific: Views from The Strategist, ASPI, Canberra, 26/08/2025.
Graham & G. Priyandita, Australia and Indonesia can deepen security cooperation by fighting hybrid threats, The Strategist, ASPI, Canberra, 05/08/2025.

👉🏻 E. Graham & G. Priyandita, Australia-Indonesia defence and security partnership: Overcoming asymmetric aspirations to tackle common threats, ASPI, Canberra, 05/08/2025. The article upon which much of this episode is based.

Australia and Indonesia are tied together by geography &mdash; but how well do we really understand each other? Despite being close neighbours, relations between Canberra and Jakarta are often uneasy, marked by cooperation, competition, and occasional mistrust.
In this episode of&nbsp;The Focus, Dr.&nbsp;Gatra Priyandita&nbsp;(Australian Strategic Policy Institute) joins Dr.&nbsp;John Bruni&nbsp;to unpack one of the most important &mdash; yet least understood &mdash; relationships in our region. From trade, migration, and defence, to cultural ties and political tensions
Show Notes:
Contact Gatra
X: @GPriyandita
LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gatra-priyandita/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/gatra-priyandita/</a>&nbsp;
ASPI:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/dr-gatra-priyandita/">https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/dr-gatra-priyandita/</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;Gatra&rsquo;s Publications
<ol>
<li>Priyandita,<a href="https://www.aspi.org.au/strategist-posts/silence-as-strategy-southeast-asia-and-chinas-persistent-cyber-campaigns/">Silence as strategy: Southeast Asia and China&rsquo;s persistent cyber campaigns</a>, ASPI, Canberra, 01/09/2025.</li>
<li>Hogeveen, G. Priyandita &amp; J. Corera,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aspi.org.au/report/curbing-the-cost-of-cybersecurity-fragmentation-an-agenda-for-harmonisation-across-the-indo-pacific/">Curbing the cost of cybersecurity fragmentation: an agenda for harmonisation across the Indo-Pacific</a>, ASPI, Canberra, 28/08/2025.</li>
</ol>
(eds.) J. Corera &amp; M.&nbsp;Opatha,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aspi.org.au/report/hyperscale-cloud-and-shared-security-in-the-indo-pacific-views-from-the-strategist/">Hyperscale cloud and shared security in the Indo-Pacific: Views from The Strategist</a>,&nbsp;ASPI, Canberra, 26/08/2025.
<ol>
<li>Graham &amp; G. Priyandita,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aspi.org.au/strategist-posts/australia-and-indonesia-can-deepen-security-cooperation-by-fighting-hybrid-threats/">Australia and Indonesia can deepen security cooperation by fighting hybrid threats</a>,&nbsp;The Strategist, ASPI,&nbsp;Canberra, 05/08/2025.</li>
</ol>
👉🏻 E. Graham &amp; G. Priyandita,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aspi.org.au/report/australia-indonesia-defence-and-security-partnership-overcoming-asymmetric-aspirations-to-tackle-common-threats/">Australia-Indonesia defence and security partnership: Overcoming asymmetric aspirations to tackle common threats</a>, ASPI, Canberra, 05/08/2025. The&nbsp;article&nbsp;upon which much of this episode is based.

The Focus is the flagship current affairs podcast of SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical  think tank.

Hosted by Dr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focus brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for Jane’s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.

Produced by Neil Smart, The Focus cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

The Focus&nbsp;is the flagship current affairs podcast of&nbsp;SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical &nbsp;think tank.
Hosted by&nbsp;Dr. John Bruni&mdash;a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media&mdash;The Focus&nbsp;brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the&nbsp;Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for&nbsp;Jane&rsquo;s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.
Produced by&nbsp;Neil Smart,&nbsp;The Focus&nbsp;cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

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