HMAS Toowoomba Strengthens Ties with Indonesian Navy During Jakarta Port Visit

Australian Frigate Enhances Regional Engagement

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Anzac-class frigate, HMAS Toowoomba (FFH 156), recently completed a significant four-day port visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, docking at Tanjung Priok Port on February 3, 2026. This visit forms a key part of the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) ongoing Regional Presence Deployment program for 2026, aimed at strengthening defense diplomacy and cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.

The deployment underscores Australia's commitment to maintaining a continuous maritime presence in the region and fostering security and stability. Commander Alicia Harrison, Commanding Officer of HMAS Toowoomba, emphasized the importance of such engagements, stating, 'Visits like this one are an invaluable opportunity to build friendships, increase cultural understanding, and promote interoperability.'

Engagements and Bilateral Cooperation

During its stay in Jakarta, HMAS Toowoomba and its crew participated in a series of exchanges and engagements with the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL). These activities included:

• An on-board dinner reception.
• Open ship events for local visitors.
• Friendship programs, such as sports matches and cultural visits for personnel.
• Professional dialogues and exchanges aimed at improving interoperability.

Naval Colonel Boy Yopi Hamel, operational assistant for the Indonesian Navy's Regional Command III, welcomed the Australian warship, highlighting the visit's benefit to bilateral relations, particularly in the defense sector. Colonel Hamel remarked, 'This visit is very important to strengthen the friendship between the two navies, and also help improve the relationship between our two countries in many ways.'

The visit also coincided with the 15th anniversary of the Australia-Indonesia Defence Alumni Association (IKAHAN), a milestone celebrated with an official reception and ceremonial sunset aboard the frigate.

Broader Regional Presence and Strategic Partnership

HMAS Toowoomba's port call in Jakarta marks its first overseas assignment for 2026 and is part of a broader deployment that will see the frigate conduct bilateral and multilateral activities in the South China Sea and East Asia, including maritime cooperative activities hosted by the Philippine Navy. The deployment also involves another Anzac-class frigate, HMAS Warramunga, which will engage in exercises with Thailand and India.

This ongoing program reflects Australia's decades-long practice of engaging with regional allies and partners to build trust, understanding, and uphold the collective security of the Indo-Pacific. The visit further solidifies the strategic partnership between Australia and Indonesia, which was recently underscored by the signing of a new security treaty on February 9, 2026, in Jakarta. This treaty aims to facilitate closer defense cooperation and build upon a 2024 defense pact, recognizing Indonesia as one of Australia's closest and most important partners.