What ASEAN needs is a lasting political commitment, supported by trusted civilian institutions, to make peace not just possible, but permanent.

Lula has defended his country’s sovereignty not only in the domain of trade, but also in regulating US-controlled tech platforms.

ASEAN's principle of noninterference becomes synonymous with impotence, and crises cannot be defused or solved, regardless of the rhetoric.

While the procurement of air defense system equipment shows Indonesia’s growing realization of its vulnerability toward potential airstrikes, most of this equipment is not combat proven. 

In a world increasingly shaped by data, trust has become both our greatest asset and our most fragile resource. 

For Indonesia, regulating AI transcends concerns about innovation or data protection, it is fundamentally about upholding the constitution and defending human rights.

The deal on tariffs between Indonesia and the United States, as announced by President Donald Trump last week, has put Indonesia on the good side of Washington, shifting its position in the current big power rivalry away from China, at least momentarily.

Over the last few weeks, the nation has witnessed how the weaponization of law operates in a country that claims to champion rule of law as a foundational element of democracy.

The unpredictability of Trump’s trade policies poses a grave threat to the global economy.

Influential middle powers, countries like Indonesia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and others balance regional leadership with global engagement.

Institutions face a new challenge in the post-knowledge economy that is materializing today, where meaning as an emerging metric requires a structural reimagining of leadership, culture and engagement through emotional alignment.

Despite promises of development, mines have not brought quality healthcare, routine medical screenings or adequate environmental safeguards. What came instead were red seas and poisoned children.

Today's airpower is defined by a foundational defense system that seamlessly integrates multilayered technologies such as land and space-based detection platforms, missiles, UAVs as well as cyber operations in a centralized command system; one that requires a vision far beyond headline-grabbing aircraft acquisitions for short-term political visibility.

Indonesia needs a gradual increase in defense spending to a minimum of 1.5 percent of GDP, prioritizing, among other matters, public-private collaboration, ensuring a sustainable modernization.

The government has pressed ahead with launching the Red and White Rural Cooperative (KDMP) as President Prabowo Subianto’s latest flagship economic initiative, despite the ongoing deliberation of the Cooperatives Law revision at the House of Representatives. July 21, 2025, witnessed the inauguration of 80,081 KDMPs nationwide with an aim to spur grassroots economic growth. However, the program’s design, which leverages village funds as collateral, poses risks not only to state finances but also to the broader goals of sustainable rural development.

The peak of the dry season next month is expected to bring even less rainfall and drier weather to several Sumatran provinces, including Riau, indicating a potential escalation of the forest fires.

The armed clashes must be quickly brought to an end, without prejudice to the principled position of the two sides on the underlying issues.

Following the Myanmar crisis, which remains unresolved to date, the ongoing Thai-Cambodian border conflict presents a decisive moment for ASEAN to reclaim its standing as a force for peace and stability in Southeast Asia.

Sustainable investment is key to building and maintaining the infrastructure needed to support the exponential growth in technology adoption to minimize the environmental footprints of an increasingly digital society.

As the custodians of two of the world's top three tropical forests by area, Brazil and Indonesia have an opportunity, and arguably a responsibility, to take the global lead in climate policies by starting where it matters the most: at home.

At the forefront of the context is the relationship between the labor force and related standards to guarantee that “labor is not a commodity”, and that the human face at work needs protection in the form of human rights.

Compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors, Indonesia emerged with the worst outcome. The Philippines and Vietnam secured nearly identical tariff rates, 19 percent and 20 percent, respectively, but gave up far less.

Before the final verdict and sentence were handed down on July 18 in the sugar import graft trial, many had hoped the Jakarta Corruption Court would deliver a just decision. This did not turn out to be the case, and Thomas “Tom” Trikasih Lembong was convicted and handed a penalty of four years and six months in prison and a fine of Rp 750 million (US$46,000).

After all, given that exorbitant new US import tariffs formed the basis for negotiations, the best-case scenario was to maintain the status quo of normal trade.

History shows that authoritarianism is one of the country's standard responses to economic upheaval.

At a time when governments are promoting healthier lifestyles and community-based wellbeing, Jakarta has chosen to tax the very spaces where those goals are pursued

The domestic workers protection bill has been proposed since 2004 but remains unpassed, putting the rights and well-being of 4 million domestic workers across the country at stake.