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Insight: Strategic significance of Indonesia-US relations
As President Barack Obama departed to India, everyone in Indonesia was certain that this time he would finally stop in Jakarta before continuing on to Seoul to attend the G20 Summit
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s President Barack Obama departed to India, everyone in Indonesia was certain that this time he would finally stop in Jakarta before continuing on to Seoul to attend the G20 Summit. Yet, when several international airlines suspended their services to Jakarta last Saturday out of fear of volcanic ash from angry Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta, speculations were abound that President Obama’s visit to Jakarta would be postponed again for a third time.
However, when Air Force One finally touched down in Jakarta on Tuesday, the long overdue visit finally took place. While some Indonesians might want to exploit the visit to demonstrate President Obama’s personal ties to the country, the substance of the visit is far more significant, not only for Indonesia but also for East Asian region and beyond.
In terms of bilateral relationships, the visit will mark a new chapter in Indonesia-US relations as the
two countries will officially commence the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (CPA).
The comprehensive partnership denotes a relationship marked by an agreement to forge and institutionalize cooperation on a set of agreed issues, pursued according to a set of priorities, and carried out on a long-term basis.
It is not a relationship based on ad hoc arrangements. It is a relationship that covers common areas of concern across the board.
The significance of Indonesia-US relations needs to be placed also within the emerging new regional order in East Asia. Obama, aware of the growing importance of East Asia, has moved quickly to reaffirm the US’ role in the region.
There is a need for Indonesia and the US to work closely in order to anticipate and manage the changing geo-political equation in East Asia due to the rise of China and the imminent arrival of India as major powers.
The rise of China and India has, in turn, started the process of the emergence of a new regional architecture in the Asia-Pacific. Therefore, of particular importance is the imperative for Indonesia and the US to work together in shaping a regional architecture that can accommodate everyone.
Despite the recent indications of China’s growing assertiveness in East Asia, there is no need to resort to a balance of power politics. The emergence of strategic competition and rivalry between China and the other three powers — the US, India and Japan — need to be prevented. Indonesia believes that a cooperative relationship pattern among the major powers is crucial for the stability and prosperity in the region. Indonesia is hopeful that the partnership with the US would contribute to regional efforts to ensure a stable and predictable regional order in Asia-Pacific.
Indonesia does not want to see the region dominated by any one major power or a group of powers.
Instead, it envisions an inclusive regional architecture where the East Asia Summit (EAS) — with full participation of the US and Russia —would serve as the primary vehicle for the attainment of an Asia-Pacific wide community. In that context, Indonesia expects the partnership with the US to contribute in the realization of such a vision.
East Asia is also important for the US in its efforts to search for regional partners in addressing global problems. The problems of climate change, energy security, transnational crimes and food security have all received greater attention in US foreign policy.
So does the promotion of democracy and human rights. In this context, a partnership with Indonesia would enhance the efforts to find both a regional and global solution to those problems. Indonesia, for example, has begun to insert the importance of democracy and human rights in the agenda of regional cooperation in Southeast Asia. Indonesia has also taken a positive role in addressing the problem of climate change and food security. Indeed, Indonesia and the US should and could work as natural partners in addressing these issues.
Challenges, however, are abundant. The most important one is how to manage high expectation on both sides. Despite the CPA, Indonesia and the US will continue to have differences on certain issues and policies. Indonesia-US relations are often affected by events and issues that have no direct connection with bilateral interest.
Specific events and disagreements over certain issues should not be allowed to derail the overall bilateral relationship.
The next four years, therefore, would be a critical period for the two countries to lay a strong foundation for a durable and sustainable partnership. Within that period, it is important for both Indonesia and the US to manage and iron out whatever differences they might have, and promote a greater understanding of each other. The opportunity to promote the partnership is too important to be missed.
The writer is the executive director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta.
