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It takes two to tango in RI-US diplomacy and so far only Indonesia is dancing
Policymakers in the United States may not understand this, but since the late 2020 presidential election, Indonesia has been speaking in codes to what it expected to be the Democratic Joe Biden administration.
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People wearing masks depicting the faces of Indonesian President Joko Widodo (left) and then-US President-elect Joe Biden (right) pose in Surakarta, Central Java on January 20, 2020, ahead of Biden's presidential inauguration later in the day. (AFP/Anwar Mustafa)
D
iplomacy, more than any other human endeavor, is steeped in symbolism. And no one understands symbolism like President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, a Javanese par excellence who grew up in the Javanese cultural heartland of Surakarta.
Policymakers in the United States may not understand this, but since the late 2020 presidential election, Indonesia has been speaking in codes to what it expected to be the Democratic Joe Biden administration.
In December 2020, when it became apparent there would be a change of the guard in Washington, the President Jokowi administration announced a shift in its defense strategy by moving one of its main combat groups from Jakarta to the Natuna Islands, which are located on the edge of the disputed South China Sea.
The objective of the overt military gesture was clear, to intercept foreign vessels, especially Chinese ones, which have regularly made their way into the waters around Natuna.
And in case Washington was not paying attention, such a strategic shift is a big deal.
For all intents and purposes, President Jokowi had made it clear about his intention to have a good relationship with Beijing.
For a pragmatic President like Jokowi, practical considerations may trump the country’s geopolitical strategy but without doubt Indonesia has edged closer to Beijing under his watch.
