TheJakartaPost

Indonesia’s active role in Gaza

Accepting some Palestinians to relocate temporarily would be a gesture to show that Indonesia is willing to put its money where its mouth is. ...

3 months ago

Analysis: Bahlil appointed as head of downstream, energy resilience team

President Prabowo Subianto has appointed Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to lead a task force on acceleration of the downstream industry and energy resilience, which also has authority over marine and forest areas and even to impose sanctions on problematic parties. Some have expressed concern, however, about whether the task force will also prioritize the energy transition....

3 months ago

The Latest

What ASEAN offers the world in the Intelligent Age

Poised to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030, ASEAN leverages opportunities in the Intelligent Age to transcend traditional growth models and foster inclusive prosperity.

3 months ago

Second stretch: Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th United States president in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Trump 2.0

Trump hates US trade deficits, loves US tariffs and is mostly indifferent, if not hostile, toward multilateral arrangements including ASEAN.

3 months ago

Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto (third left) inaugurates five new infantry battalions to support disaster-prone regions (PDR) on Oct. 2, 2024, during a ceremony at the National Monument in Central Jakarta. The battalions are to assist local farmers and safeguard communities in three Papuan provinces.

The end of security sector reform and the growing threat of militarism

As many observers noted prior to the inauguration of Prabowo, a former Army general, the potential for creeping militarism in governance and civilian affairs during his presidency could undermine the country's progress in democracy and human rights for which countless many have shed tears and blood.

3 months ago

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) shakes hands with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo ahead of the Group of 20 Leaders' Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Sept. 9, 2023.

BRICS: What is in a name for Indian and Indonesian space activities?

The two countries’ space programs have not been very connected in the past decade.

3 months ago

Jubilant: Palestinians react to news of a ceasefire deal with Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, on Jan. 15.

A vision for independent Palestine: Time to act

The deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Gaza could also be considered as part of the effort to stabilize the region.

3 months ago

Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri speaks with (ki-ka) Chairwoman of Political and Security Affairs Puan Maharani and Chair of the UMKM, Creative Economy and Economics Division of Prananda Prabowo in the Determination of Regional Candidate Pair of Regional Heads in Jakarta, Wednesday, February 19 2020. Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) officially establishes 49 pairs of candidates for district / city and 1 provincial level to advance in the Regional Election in 2020.

Analysis: PDI-P faces test of unity ahead of national congress

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is still the biggest party in the country, yet its position with respect to President Prabowo Subianto’s administration is either hanging in the balance or remains unclear. However, the ongoing corruption investigation into PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto has driven the party closer to the President, as PDI-P chair Megawati Soekarnoputri signaled during the party’s anniversary celebration on Jan. 10.

3 months ago

United States President Donald Trump (center) gestures alongside US First Lady Melania Trump and US Vice President JD Vance during the inaugural parade inside Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, on Jan. 20, 2025.

The power of options

The “other options” card is crucial to strengthen our hand in future negotiations.

3 months ago

Underfunded sector: A farm worker carries bunches of rice in a rice paddy near Niamey in Niger on Aug. 16, 2023.

The key to narrowing the development gap

A single sector holds the key to closing half of the outstanding sustainable-development gaps: Agri-food systems in Africa

3 months ago

Tense meeting: United States President Donald Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping at the start of their bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019.

Why China might need the rest of the West more as Trump returns

China may be looking to engage the West, at least the non-US part of it, for a range of economic, political and security reasons.

3 months ago

A vendor walks past a mural encouraging vigilance against the spread of fake news on Jl. KH Hasyim Ashari in Tangerang, Banten, on Feb. 22, 2021.

Can prebunking outpace fake news?

Prebunking emerges as a key tool in the fight against misinformation, equipping people to resist fake news before it spreads.

3 months ago

President Prabowo Subianto arrives at the government palace in Lima on Nov. 14 to meet with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. (Reuters/Agustin Marcarian)

Chaos in Indonesia’s foreign policy?

President Prabowo Subianto has taken steps that have resulted in a monumental shift in Indonesia’s foreign policy.

3 months ago

Déjà vu: United States President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States inside the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Monday.

Trump 2.0: America first, everyone else second, including Indonesia

In the face of Trump's "America First" policy, Indonesia needs not only to diversify export markets, but also double down on high-value industries like electric vehicles, where global demand is rising.

3 months ago

Constitutional Court Chief Justice Suhartoyo (fourth left) presides over a 2024 election dispute hearing on April 4, 2024, in Jakarta.

Analysis: Claims of bias and abuse of power in regional election disputes

Disputes over the 2024 regional election results being heard at the Constitutional Court mostly involve troubling allegations of central government favoritism for certain candidates.

3 months ago

A flotilla of boats with Indonesian Navy personnel on board travels to take down a mysterious sea fence in Tangerang, Banten, on Jan. 23, 2025.

Priceless waters

Our seas and coasts should remain open to ensure the livelihoods of coastal communities and protect marine biodiversity.

3 months ago

Triumphant: A member of the LGBTQ community celebrates after the Thai parliament passed the final senatorial vote on the same sex marriage bill in Bangkok on June 18, 2024.

What next after same sex marriage in Thailand?

It is a great cause for celebration, cherishing love and friendship in their gender diversity. It is also time to look for the “next steps”.

3 months ago

Strengthening connections: (Left to right, front) United States President Joe Biden, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, along with President Prabowo Subianto (center, back), and France's President Emmanuel Macron (right, back) are pictured in a group photo after attending the meeting on Sustainable Development and Energy Transition at the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Nov. 19, 2024.

Time to shift India-Indonesia ties into the next gear

Despite existing links, there remains substantial untapped potential for future collaboration between India and Indonesia.

3 months ago

An aerial view shows farmers harvesting rice in Singosari, Malang, East Java, on Sept. 25, 2024. The Agriculture Ministry is optimistic about meeting domestic food needs by the end of 2024 through accelerated planting and optimized land use for rice and corn across Indonesia.

Agroforestry: A sustainable path to food self-sufficiency

Contrary to outdated views, agroforestry is now seen as a modern, adaptive practice that supports food security and environmental sustainability.

3 months ago

Workers stack packaged lunches for students of SMA Muhammadiyah 2 high school in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Jan. 6, 2025, the first day of the free nutritious meals program.

Prabowo’s future with millennials and Gen Z hinges on free meals

Failure could undermine the President's credibility and weaken his political standing, particularly among the country’s younger generations.

3 months ago

Donald Trump (center left, hand upraised) is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20, 2025, in the rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC.

Key takeaways from Trump’s inauguration speech

Trump's speech for his second term was a reworking of his 2017 speech, both underlined by his pledge to "put America first": a surefire way to rouse his support base.

3 months ago

Foreign Minister Sugiono (rear, second left) poses for a group photo with (front, from left to right) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other participants in the outreach/BRICS Plus format meeting during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia on Oct. 24, 2024. (AFP/Alexander Nemenov/Pool)

Analysis: BRICS makes for bad optics for non-aligned Indonesia

When Indonesia formally became a full member of BRICS, an intergovernmental organization that seeks to change the Western-dominated global financial system, many at home and abroad questioned whether Jakarta was shedding its non-alignment principle. They warned that Indonesia may have to pay a high for being perceived as taking sides in the world increasingly polarized between one bloc led by the United States and another led by China and Russia.

3 months ago

Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro (second right) attends a meeting with Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Committee III overseeing education and culture on Dec. 3, 2024, at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta.

Why science and technology needs Prof. Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro

Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro is just the man to lead the new higher education ministry in forging the country's future, founded on an education system with global standards that can achieve the vision of a modern and technologically advanced Indonesia.

3 months ago

Retirees line up in Jakarta on Feb. 15, 2011, to receive their monthly pension payments.

Underlying pension problems

It is worthwhile to look at the underlying problems with the pension system in Indonesia.

3 months ago

The TikTok boomerang

The TikTok ban places the US government in a near-untenable position.

3 months ago

A man waves a Palestinian flag as people celebrate the ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza City on Jan. 19, 2025.

Beyond the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, the future looks unclear

Once the euphoria subsides, hard questions will emerge

3 months ago

United States president-elect Donald Trump addresses a news conference on Dec. 16, 2024, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

How should liberal democracies respond to a Trumpian world?

A new global opinion poll has important lessons for European countries to review and realign their policies, individually and collectively, with respect to a new world disorder of which Trumpism is both symptom and cause.

3 months ago

United States president-elect Donald Trump speaks on Dec. 22 during AmericaFest 2024 of Turning Point in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Indo-Pacific in focus: Opportunities and challenges under Trump 2.0

The Trump presidency's second term brings with it both opportunities and challenges for countries across the Indo-Pacific, indicating a pivotal moment for redefining the global landscape through balancing national interests with regional collaboration.

3 months ago

United States Army soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team stand in front of the Indonesian Army's NBell-412 helicopter during the opening ceremony of the Ksatria Warrior 2024 joint exercise at the Military Command V/Brawijaya Combat Traning Education Center in Asembagus, Situbondo, East Java, on Aug. 21, 2024. The training was held until Aug. 25, 2024, ahead of the Super Garuda Shield 2024 multinational joint exercise which started on Aug. 26, 2024.