Foreign service officials will take time to brainstorm, reflect and evaluate the course of action taken in previous years, and will take stock of the most effective overtures in approaching and dealing with challenges. Simply put, it is a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Last year, we saw four major international issues that will continue to preoccupy international communities in 2018 and beyond. The issues concern the United States’ prospects for imposing economic restrictions, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the tension across the Korean Peninsula and overlapping claims in the South China Sea. They all have a significant impact on Indonesia’s national interests.

In 1992, Queen Elizabeth made headlines in her Christmas message when she called that year her annus horribilis, or horrible year. Practitioners of diplomacy may also view 2017 as a horrible year, given the surprises and plethora of international crises and challenges.

Although diplomats are trained to deal with unexpected developments and must remain cognizant of potential crises, many were still caught off guard. The 2017 master of surprises was no other than US President Donald Trump, with his prolific tweets and impromptu remarks.

As a consequence of the sheer breadth and depth of entanglements that many countries have with the US, they have a need to thoroughly decrypt and understand the nuances behind Trump’s comments.

In trade and investment relations, many governments have taken precautionary measures on potential economic restrictions imposed by the US. This is based on Trump’s assertion that some countries, including Indonesia, are enjoying a trade surplus.