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Top diplomat’s job deemed secure as race for Cabinet posts heats up
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi looks likely to continue as Indonesia's top diplomat after delivering on a number of foreign policy priorities set by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
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Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (right) and her Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz are seated in front of portraits of former Indonesian foreign ministers, ahead of bilateral talks at the Pancasila Building in Pejambon, Central Jakarta, on Monday. During their meeting, the ministers discussed plans to strengthen economic relations between the two countries. (The Jakarta Post/Seto Wardhana)
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ollowing last month’s confirmation of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s reelection, speculation is rife that the President will overhaul his Cabinet line-up with a gaggle of fresh faces for his second term in office.
While the President has received suggestions aplenty for a shortlist of prospective ministers, international relations experts believe the foreign policy team led by Retno Marsudi will remain unchanged -- unless Jokowi decides to take a different approach altogether.
Criticized as a foreign policy novice at the beginning of his term, Jokowi has over the course of five years warmed to the idea of representing Indonesia on the global stage, although some officials privately say he still dislikes travelling long distances.
He has focused most of his attention on building infrastructure and initiating development projects at home and has said that he will not be making significant changes to his approach on international politics during his second term.
Key to the continuity of Indonesia’s foreign policy was the country’s first female foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, who was in sync with the President’s approach to international relations, said Hikmahanto Juwana, foreign policy observer and international law professor at the University of Indonesia.
Hikmahanto argued that Retno was a good match for Jokowi, who emphasized bilateral engagement, the protection of citizens overseas and attracting foreign investment.
“Because Jokowi focuses more on what Indonesia can get from abroad and less on the multilateral [aspects of diplomacy], Retno is a suitable minister,” he said earlier this week.
