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Indonesia’s diplomacy in 2021: Robust but down to earth
Competition between major powers is also not good for business, especially if they force countries to take sides in doing business.
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Mutual understanding: United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and Foreign Minister LP Retno Marsudi speak as they sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on maritime cooperation at the Pancasila Building in Jakarta on Dec. 14, 2021. (AFP)
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s the second week of January comes to an end, I still find myself replying to new year’s greeting cards. This gives rise to my wonder of how another year has just passed us yet again. Whether pandemic life has seemingly hastened the passage of time is to be determined, but thinking back on 2021 brings a few things to mind.
In the world of international and interstate relations, a great deal took place in the course of 2021 and the same can be said concerning the conduct of Indonesian diplomacy. The Jakarta Post in its editorial published on Dec. 28, 2021, encapsulated the work done last year with an upbeat heading titled “Good year in diplomacy.”
The editorial in particular highlighted vaccine diplomacy and Indonesia’s sustained efforts to uphold its fundamental position and the values enshrined in the ASEAN Charter following the military coup in Myanmar.
The high politics of international issues might not receive much attention from the general public. These days, Indonesians in general — perhaps similarly so to other nationals — are more concerned with carrying on with their lives, especially with the prolongation of the pandemic.
Issues at hand, such as economic and social hardships due to the pandemic, remain at the top of the list of their immediate interests.
“Please say thank you to ibu Retno [LP] Marsudi for bringing in vaccines.”
This was the most frequent expression I heard from friends, relatives and even complete strangers I met in 2021.
