On February 21-22 the Head of the National Security College (NSC), Professor Rory Medcalf, visited Jakarta as a guest of the Australian Mission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

He held consultations with officials from the ASEAN Secretariat (pictured) on the evolving Indo-Pacific concept, as well as meetings with senior Indonesian foreign ministry officials and academics. He gave a lecture on regional security at the Indonesian Defence University (UNHAN) and engaged in a lively public discussion on the Indo-Pacific with Ambassador Dino Patti Djalal at the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia.

The College has strong and growing connections with Indonesia, one of Australia’s foremost strategic partners. For instance, NSC provides training and development courses to Indonesian officials on cyber security, to UNHAN students on topics such as asymmetric conflict, and to Indonesian and Indian officials jointly on Indo-Pacific maritime security. Indonesian students have also taken part in the NSC’s graduate studies program.

A highlight of the visit was a reception hosted by Australia’s Ambassador to ASEAN, Jane Duke, for Southeast Asian alumni from a range of Australian education institutions, including the Australian National University.