REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The dynamics of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Australia is strongly influenced by the leaders of the two countries, an international relations observer from the University of Indonesia, Evi Fitriani, said in a seminar on Public Diplomacy of Indonesia to Australia held in Jakarta on Friday.

"The relationship between Indonesia and Australia is up and down like a roller coaster, and it is strongly influenced by the leaders who set the direction of the relations between the two countries," Evi Fitriani said.

According to her, the relationship between Indonesia and Australia is currently very good because President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Malcolm Bligh Turnbull have a good relationship.

"Prime Minister Turnbull and President Jokowi is very close. There is chemistry between the two. Meanwhile, under Prime Minister Tony Abbott the relationship between Indonesia and Australia, even according to former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, was the weakest. It was because Tony Abbott and Jokowi were not too connected," she explained.

Therefore, Evi added that the role of leaders of both countries is very important in determining bilateral relations between Indonesia and Australia.

She added that bilateral relations between Indonesia and Australia tend to be regarded an asymmetric relationship.

"The relationship between Indonesia and Australia is asymmetrical. Australia thinks we are too unresponsive to them, while Australia wants to know and pry whatever happens in Indonesia," she said.

Evi also considered that mutual trust and mutual understanding should still be improved to maintain the relations between Indonesia and Australia, both in inter-governmental relationships and people to people contact.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika