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Indonesia needs a more defense-oriented foreign policy
The emerging geopolitical landscape dictates that Indonesia must be prepared for the worst. Nobody wants a war to occur, but the likelihood of one happening in the Indo-Pacific region has continued to grow.
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People walk past ASEAN member state flags outside the Pullman Hotel in Luang Prabang, Laos, on Jan. 27, 2024. The hotel was serving as a venue for an ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ (AMM) retreat. (AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)
W
ith a new president taking office in October, it is a good time for Indonesia to rethink its foreign policy, taking into account its rising position on the global stage and the rapidly changing geopolitical environment. If, over the last 10 years, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has put the emphasis on economic ties, we should now make defense the driving force.
The emerging geopolitical landscape dictates that Indonesia must be prepared for the worst. Nobody wants a war to occur, but the likelihood of one happening in the Indo-Pacific region has continued to grow, given the escalating rivalry between the United States and China and the brewing tensions over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
If war happens, Indonesia will be vulnerable. We are not even in a position to defend our territories and sovereignty. The government’s 15-year program to meet a minimum essential force goal for the Indonesian Military (TNI) ends this year, and by the TNI’s own admission, we are only about 70 percent of the way to the target.
The incoming administration must incorporate defense into its foreign policy. What good is all the economic progress we are making if we cannot defend ourselves?
The government’s Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision of becoming one of the five largest economies in the world with greater prosperity all around, may be a pipe dream unless we address our defense shortcomings sooner rather than later.
Some of our current foreign policy principles may need to be changed or recalibrated to accommodate these needs. For one, our foreign policy must be more defense-oriented, rather than economically oriented.
This means building stronger relations with countries that share our defense and security concerns, who can help strengthen our ability not only to defend the country but also to pursue peace in the region and around the world.
