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View all search resultsStop the spiral
Jakarta should focus on what it can actually do, without grandstanding.
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Smoke rises following an explosion in Tehran on Feb 28, in this screen grab taken from video after Israel launched an unprovoked attack against Iran. (-/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
T
he latest escalation in the United States-Israeli strikes on Iran are not a mere distant spectacle for Indonesians. They are a direct threat to Indonesian lives, to regional stability and to an already fragile global economy.
What is clear is that Indonesia cannot be more involved in the Middle East than the Arab and Gulf states themselves.
But Indonesia also cannot stand idle when the safety of its citizens and the stability of its economic lifelines are at stake.
Start with the most basic national interest: protection. Hundreds of thousands of Indonesians live and work across the Middle East, while many more pass through the region for pilgrimage and travel.
Migrant CARE has warned that escalation will deepen fear and insecurity among Indonesian migrant workers and has urged the government to open complaint channels, provide frequent updates and prepare contingency plans.
The Foreign Ministry has told Indonesians in affected areas to remain calm, stay alert and keep contact with the nearest embassy.
All of that is necessary, yet it is not enough.
