Indonesia has not left anything to chance in preparation for the Group of 20 Leaders’ Summit this week, having doubled down security in Bali despite hopes that tensions among member countries would ease following the confirmed absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Final preparations are underway on the Island of the Gods to facilitate a convening of leaders from the world’s biggest economies, in search of solutions to global crises that have been complicated by the polarizing war in Ukraine.

The swanky Nusa Dua hotel enclave in Bali’s southeast has been transformed into ground zero of Indonesia’s G20 presidency activities, with beefed-up security on land and in the surrounding waters, while a fleet of electric vehicles have been deployed to service thousands of delegates, journalists and businesspeople taking part in the events.

“From Bali, we want to invite the world to recover together, to rise stronger by working together and to bring peace to the global community,” Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who oversees operations, told the press on Saturday.

“Bali radiates an aura of friendship and peace; I believe it will permeate the hearts of all the leaders who come here.”

This year, Indonesia holds the rotating presidency of the G20, which culminates in a meeting of the world’s most-powerful figures on Nov. 15-16 at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, situated on the lush grounds that have been used to host major international conferences such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meeting in 2018.

The National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) have teamed up to deploy over 24,000 security personnel who have been trained to anticipate a range of situations from terrorist threats to natural disasters and violent protests.

Balinese authorities have also restricted activities including religious and traditional ceremonies throughout the week, particularly for residents situated near G20 venues. Locals have also been ordered to work and study from home, while a team of pecalang (traditional Balinese security officers) have been trained to help keep things in order.

The government has faced accusations of repressive overreach following a string of controversies ahead of the summit, including reports of activists being banned from protesting or organizing anti-G20 discussions, foreigners being detained under the threat of deportation and local communities forced to commute at sea to get around the heavy security in and around the Nusa Dua complex.

Que sera, sera

The summit itself, which brings together the leaders of the top-19 economies and the European Union, is expected to be dominated by the fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, which has fueled global shortages of food and energy as well as a cost-of-living crisis.

While Indonesia has put forward improved global health architecture, digital transformation and energy transition as the G20’s main priorities this year, meetings in the lead-up to the summit have been marred by a lack of consensus among member states -- some of whom made it a point to isolate Russia at the expense of cooperation.

As concern grows that the summit will fail to reach a consensus on a final joint communiqué, Luhut suggested that considering the circumstances, a successful hosting of the high-profile event should already be counted as a win.

“I’m seeing that the communiqué is very important, but what’s more important is that we can see the concrete results to come out of prior G20 meetings,” Luhut said.

“We are still hopeful of issuing a joint communiqué, but whatever will be, will be.”

On Sunday, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati officially launched the G20 Pandemic Fund, one of the concrete deliverables touted by the Indonesian presidency.

Meanwhile, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said that 17 leaders have confirmed their attendance, including United States President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Jokowi had encouraged all the G20 leaders to come because developing countries were relying on them to come up with solutions to the food and energy crises.

Indonesian and Russian officials confirmed the absence of Russia’s Putin last week, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to address the global economic forum via video link. Outgoing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who recently lost a reelection bid, and Mexico’s Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who assigned his foreign minister to take his place, would not be attending, Luhut said.

Analysts have said that while Putin’s absence may result in fewer disruptions and cooling tensions at the summit, there is still no guarantee that the question of Ukraine will not dominate discussions.

“Putin’s absence may ease tension from Western nations, who may plan to walk out in protest,” said foreign policy researcher Fitriani of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). However, with Moscow still represented at the G20 Summit, anything could happen.

“Indonesia will certainly try to keep the discussion on the three priority issues it proposed so it is present in the leaders’ statement. But as far as any real commitments, the situation makes it rather difficult,” she said on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters in Bali, Luhut reaffirmed Indonesia’s wish for the warring sides to “calm down” and bring an immediate end to all hostilities.

He reiterated that the G20 is an economic forum and that the war brings no benefit to anyone. “It jeopardizes the [lives and livelihood of] middle-class people, especially in developing countries,” he said on Sunday. (tjs)

— Fadhil Haidar Sulaeman contributed to the report.

Popular

Why Indonesia must write ASEAN’s green rules

Freeport Indonesia pushes back full copper mine restart

Growth without gain: Why Indonesians don't feel the economy