Indonesia and Australia Enhance Border Security Cooperation
During the 21st DGICM + Australia Consultation held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Indonesia and Australia committed to strengthening regional border security cooperation. The meeting, co-chaired by Indonesian Immigration Director General Hendarsam Marantoko and Australia's First Assistant Secretary for Immigration Damien Kilner, focused on enhancing intelligence sharing, immigration coordination, and cybersecurity initiatives. Hendarsam highlighted the importance of collaboration among ASEAN members and Australia to maintain regional stability and address complex security threats, including irregular migration and human trafficking.
The consultation underscored the development of robust operational standards for frontline immigration and border management. Hendarsam noted that Indonesian and Brunei citizens already benefit from Australia's SmartGate automated border clearance system. The meeting also addressed the need for coordinated responses to increasingly complex security challenges, as highlighted by Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines.
To tackle digital threats, Singapore and Australia proposed a new cooperation framework centered on data sharing and artificial intelligence technologies, aimed at modernizing immigration services and enhancing border screening capabilities. The meeting agreed to continue the ASEAN-Australia Programme of Work for 2026-2027, which focuses on building regional capacity to combat transnational crime and evolving migration patterns.
Indonesia is set to host a Cyber Resilience Programme in August 2026, designed to prepare frontline officers against cybercrime linked to transnational criminal networks. Other strategic initiatives include the Border Control Agency Management Programme in Vietnam and training programs in the Philippines and Malaysia.
Looking ahead, Indonesia confirmed its readiness to host the 22nd DGICM + Australia Consultation in Bali in 2027, where discussions will focus on secure information sharing, immigration data interoperability, and joint efforts against online scams and transnational crime. This ongoing collaboration reflects the region's commitment to addressing the challenges posed by changing migration patterns and enhancing security measures.
