The journalist told his friends on Sunday that the newly installed US President Joe Biden succeeded in retaliating to President Jokowi’s moves. The Indonesian Embassy in Washington is generally perceived as Indonesia’s most important and prestigious representative office of the country abroad. The ambassador is expected not just to promote Indonesia, but also take a leading role in advancing ASEAN along with the ambassadors of the other nine members of the bloc.

“Biden is taking revenge on Jokowi by withdrawing his ambassador in Indonesia for his Cabinet,” my office colleague said in a WhatsApp group message, which he opened with “Hi, hi.”

Diplomatically, the withdrawal can be unpleasant for either host country, even though the envoys were pulled out for promotion. Luckily, then-Indonesian ambassador to the US Mahendra Siregar and his successor Muhammad Lutfi were recalled during the era of Donald Trump.

According to the US State Department official website, after his inauguration as the country’s 46^th president on Jan. 20, Biden appointed US ambassador to Indonesia Sung Kim as acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs. Kim’s previous ambassadorial posting was in South Korea and the Philippines.

Ambassador Kim presented his credentials to President Jokowi on Oct. 21 last year, meaning he only served for three months in Jakarta. The career diplomat is regarded as the most senior US diplomat in charge of the Korean Peninsula nuclear crisis. His new post is a big promotion for him, although it remains unclear whether his job is permanent.

Lutfi was installed as trade minister on Dec. 23 last year, just three months after then-US president Trump accepted his credentials on Sept. 17. The former businessman had previously held various government positions, including chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), trade minister and ambassador to Japan.

In 2019, Jokowi called home Mahendra and installed him as the deputy to Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, only six months after Trump received his credentials in April. It is Mahendra’s third deputy ministerial post after previously serving as deputy trade minister and deputy finance minister.

The arrival of the Biden administration is a huge diplomatic relief for the world, after four years of uncertainties as a result of Trump’s impulsive policy making and deep love for unilateralism. However, it is often more complicated to deal with the Democratic administration than with that of the Republicans. The Democrats are more fussy and more demanding on the issues of human rights, labor protection and values of democracy.

“My warmest congratulations [to] Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on your historic election. The huge turnout is a reflection of the hope placed on democracy,” Jokowi tweeted alongside a photo of him shaking hands with Biden at the White House in 2015.

Minister Retno said that “Indonesia has also emphasized the importance of ASEAN in inviting the new US administration to carry out multilateralism that is inclusive and fair.”

This year, however, Biden will be preoccupied with the domestic agenda, such as the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and in uniting the extremely segregated nation. But this is also a good opportunity for Jakarta and Washington to build closer relations. This year, Jokowi will not likely meet Biden at multilateral forums due to the pandemic. Next year, hopefully they can meet when Jokowi hosts the annual Group of 20 summit.

Retno knows very well that it is very urgent to develop new networks and diplomatic approaches with the new administration after practically dealing only with Trump for the last four years. I am afraid that over the last four years, like many other countries, Indonesia has come to be at a loss with Washington. 

Trump paid little attention to ASEAN. He attended the ASEAN summit in 2017, and after that he was represented by lower ranking officials. Since that year, Trump also just left vacant the ambassadorial position for ASEAN. There is a diplomatic vacuum between the regional trading bloc and the US.

This is the right time for Jokowi to lead ASEAN in dealing with the new administration. Why? It seems to me that Biden and his Secretary of State-designate are not very familiar with Southeast Asian region. An aggressive diplomatic move to attract the White House’s attention is needed by making Biden aware that ASEAN plays a crucial role as its partner in terms of trade and regional security, including in the South China Sea. Biden has vowed to restore multilateral cooperation including with US allies and strategic partners.

This time Jokowi should send his new envoy to the US as soon as possible. Forget the rigid bureaucratic procedure in selecting the candidate. There is an urgent need to propose the candidate to the House of Representatives for endorsement.

There are many suitable candidates. I just want to mention several names including Mahendra, former foreign ministers Marty Natalegawa and Hassan Wirajuda, and Dino Patti Djalal, a former deputy minister and envoy to DC.

Bapak Jokowi, you have a perfect opportunity to play a larger role in global affairs. Start it with the US president, who will be interested in your regional leadership.

***

Senior editor at The Jakarta Post

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