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Unraveling foreign policy of second term
As in the 2014 race, incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo carved out an image of being “sovereign, self-reliant and distinctive” in his platform for his reelection bid in 2019. Those three words emulated founding president Sukarno’s doctrine of Trisakti, which comprised three basic values of nation-building, namely “political sovereignty, economic self-reliance and distinctive socialcultural characteristics”. #opinion
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Exchanging views: Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai (left) speaks with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (second right), who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi (right), at the Presidential Palace. (The Jakarta Post/Seto Wardhana)
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s in the 2014 race, incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo carved out an image of being “sovereign, self-reliant and distinctive” in his platform for his reelection bid in 2019. Those three words emulated founding president Sukarno’s doctrine of Trisakti, which comprised three basic values of nation-building, namely “political sovereignty, economic self-reliance and distinctive socialcultural characteristics”.
Since they are clearly outlined in the vision-mission statement of the Jokowi administration for its second term, the three words should serve as guiding principles in conducting national policies, including foreign policy. The embodiment of those ideals should all come down to one notion: independence or self-reliance.
The crucial question is how to articulate independence or self-reliance in Jokowi’s future foreign policy and diplomacy. It is imperative, therefore, for the concept of Trisakti to be interpreted if we are to implement it in the current context.
First, there is political sovereignty. A nation is sovereign only if it is self-reliant. This suggests that Indonesia has to set its own direction and orientation of foreign policy based only on national interests.
Political sovereignty in foreign policy can at least be explained from the context of decision-making. Sovereignty in decision-making is evident from one nation’s capability of making foreign policy at its own disposal, which is dictated only by national interests, both in strategic and tactical terms. Indonesia has demonstrated this principle and should continuously employ it in undertaking diplomacy and foreign policy in the next five years.
Take the wars on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. Indonesia did not join the West-led campaign simply due to careful consideration of its Muslim constituents. Indonesia did not follow in the West’s footsteps in combating terrorism through military actions that destroys a country politically, economically and socially. Instead, Indonesia firmly opted for deradicalization by empowering and winning the hearts and minds of the moderate Muslims; engaging the radicals through persuasive means while maintaining a legalistic approach to terrorist actions.
Despite the differences, good bilateral relations between Indonesia and the West remain intact.
