Australia and Indonesia say they are close to signing a “watershed” defence treaty that will upgrade their already close collaboration on security issues.

The treaty was approved on Wednesday by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto , who is on his first state visit to Australia, although the pact between the two countries will not be officially signed until January.

The new agreement will commit Australia and Indonesia to “consult at a leader and ministerial level, on a regular basis on matters of security”, the Australian leader said.

It will also facilitate “mutually beneficial security activities, and if either or both countries’ security is threatened, to consult and consider what measures may be taken, either individually or jointly

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