Indicadores para medir la profesionalización

inDoneSia

Senior-level dialogue is particularly important in progressing our relationship with Indonesia, and, in 2005–06, this was illustrated by visits by Defence Force Chiefs and Service Chiefs. In February 2006, we conducted our first bilateral counter-hijack and hostage recovery exercise since 1997, Exercise Dawn

Kookaburra. Two Indonesian navy ships visited Australian ports and the Indonesian Navy participated in Exercise Kakadu in August 2005—a regional maritime exercise focused on interoperability. This was the first exercise that the Indonesian Navy has participated in with Australia since 1999.

Defence provided training in information analysis to Indonesian officers under the Memorandum of understanding on Combating International Terrorism, and the Indonesian Army Special Forces Kopassus Commander visited to observe Exercise Dawn Kookaburra and met with Special Operations Commander Australia. Further interaction occurred through visits, training and conference attendance in the areas of maritime security, defence management, peacekeeping, air safety and military law. SinGapore

Australia’s defence relationship with Singapore is friendly, cooperative and strategically important. A balanced bilateral relationship is underpinned by a broad range of activities including exercises, training and regular dialogue through senior officer visits and formal meetings. Defence science collaboration with Singapore continued to develop, with the inaugural Australia-Singapore Science and Technology forum taking place in October 2005. A significant aspect of the defence relationship is the access provided by Australia for Singapore to use Defence training facilities. Exercise Wallaby, Singapore’s annual unilateral exercise, was held at Shoalwater

Bay from October to November 2005. Singapore continues to utilise RAAF Pearce in Western Australia and the Army Aviation Centre in Queensland for fixed-wing and helicopter flight training.

timor‑leSte

The Defence Cooperation Program continued to focus on developing the East Timor Defence Force throughout 2005–06. In the first half of the year, Australia continued training programs and capability development activities in the East Timor Defence Force Headquarters, and related units, as well as the Ministry of Defence. These activities included English language and leadership training, as well as training in Australia at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Significantly, this saw the first graduation of an East Timorese student from the Royal Military College.

Advisory and training personnel also continued to build the capability of the Timor-Leste defence organisation in communications, engineering, logistics, aid to the civil community, finance, policy and planning. In January 2006, and subsequent months, the events of the dismissal of East Timor Defence Force members, and the unrest that followed, interrupted the Defence Cooperation Program. With the restoration of security by the international stabilisation force, Australia was able to resume activities of the Defence Cooperation Program, although at a reduced level.

Defence Cooperation Program funding for the South-East Asia region decreased in 2005–06 by $2.8m due primarily to the construction of the Residential Compound Project in Timor-Leste being completed in 2004–05. pHilippineS

Australia’s defence engagement with the Philippines continued to expand in key areas of strategic importance, especially counter-terrorism and maritime security.

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A highlight of 2005–06 was the visit to the Philippines in October 2005 by the Minister for Defence. Negotiations for an Australia-Philippines Status of Forces Agreement progressed, and a combined project to introduce a watercraft capability to the Armed Forces of the Philippines was commenced.

These activities build on a strong foundation of bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation, highlighted by the successful conduct of the annual Dawn Caracha counter-hostage training in September and October 2005. In addition, support for the Philippines’ defence reform program continued in the areas of strategic leadership, capability acquisition and logistics management.

tHailanD

The tempo of Defence engagement with Thailand was high during 2005–06. The strength of the defence relationship was underscored by the visits to Thailand by the Chief of Air Force in February 2006, and the Vice Chief of the Defence Force in April 2006. The extensive activity program included the Special Forces Panther suite of exercises, and Air Force exercise Thai Boomerang.

Cooperation was also expanded to include capability development during 2005–06, with activities including seminars on defence acquisition. Australia also supported the attendance of Thai personnel to courses in Australia and provided English language training to students in Thailand.

Vietnam, camBoDia anD laoS Australia’s bilateral relationships with Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are small, but continue to develop. English language training continues to be a substantial focus of our engagement for all three countries. The inaugural Vietnam–Australia Defence Consultations were held in Hanoi in 2005 and counter-terrorism engagement was a highlight with the ADF Special Operations Commander’s visit to Vietnam and Cambodia

in May 2006. Australia also hosted the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Commander in Chief, and Cambodia’s Secretary of State for National Defense. In addition, Australia provided assistance to Cambodia in seeking accreditation with the united Nations for peacekeeping operations. Cambodia has since deployed soldiers to the united Nations Mission in Sudan.

Brunei DaruSSalam

Australia’s positive, but modest, bilateral defence relationship with Brunei Darussalam was maintained in this reporting period through a number of activities. The Australian Army conducted special forces Exercise Night Leopard in September 2005, and the Navy successfully conducted Exercise Penguin in June 2006. Other key highlights included a visit by Air Commander Australia to Brunei in February 2006 and annual cooperation in Brunei’s fixed and rotary wing standardisation review.

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