It is not the first time that Jakarta has shied away from outrightly condemning what is clearly an act of aggression by one country against another in violation of international laws. Instead, the Foreign Ministry in the statement on Sunday went only as far as “expressing deep concerns”.

We recall the government gave a similar meek response when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, they expressed concerns and called for peace, but fell short of condemning the act. Only a week later in March, at the United Nations General Assembly did Indonesia vote for the resolution deploring the invasion and demanding the full withdrawal of Russian forces.

True, four years later, Russian forces are still in Ukraine, which raises the question: does condemning an act of aggression by a big power change anything on the ground? The answer may be no, and therefore the same argument could apply today whether condemning the US attack on Venezuela would have any impact.

But any decent nation should condemn any act of aggression by one country against another as a matter of principle, if anything else. That principle is respecting the sovereign rights of other nations and abiding by all international laws. If you violate that principle, then all hell break loose.

A condemnation is a good starting point to try to roll back the invasion, to discourage future aggression and open diplomatic channels to resolve whatever problems the warring countries may have as an alternative to the use of military force.  

Let us hope the government takes a stronger position if and when the UNGA comes up with a resolution to deplore the US. We should be less calculating about the costs and benefits of our relations with big powers and be more principled in our response.