Indonesia does have the ability to perform at least nine tasks in the Asia-Pacific region, or, if one must, the Indo-Pacific. It is ironic that most analysts do not readily understand them.

First and foremost, Indonesia is a democracy, bar none. While the concept of rule of law is not perfect, the same can be said about any number of democracies in the world. What makes Indonesia unique is the extent to which its people have embraced the importance of democracy. Whether this can be reversed or not, also depends on the people of Indonesia, not any external powers.

Second, if “ASEAN matters”, that is because Indonesia does too. Indonesia is one of the nine countries identified by Paul Kennedy of Yale University as a pivotal power. If Indonesia implodes, the whole contiguous region is affected. This is a distinction that belongs to Brazil, Mexico, Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, Turkey, Pakistan and India. Alternatively, when Indonesia thrives, the rest of the region grows with it.

Third, Indonesia has a geographical span that is akin to spreading from France’s northernmost border to Turkey’s easternmost Anatolia. To get any grand strategy right, great powers that sit in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) must get Indonesia right, and only then ASEAN, for that matter, the East Asian Summit (EAS). The latter is an annual event that is held back-to-back with the year-end ASEAN Summit.

Third, Indonesia has a population with an average age that is just 29 years old. Unlike China, Japan and South Korea, all of which are greying, Indonesia does not have that problem yet. In the event of severe climate change, the likelihood of 285 million Indonesians having the ability to bear the unbearable is consequentially higher.

Fourth, if geography invariably dictates the geopolitical and geo-economic destiny depth of a country, Indonesia is the sixth-largest maritime power in the world in the sense that it has an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that is just behind those of France, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom and Australia.

With Australia being its next-door neighbor, Indonesia is not a mere developing country with a gross domestic product (GDP) of more than US$1 trillion. Not surprisingly, Indonesia is a member of the Group of 20, with ASEAN as an observer.

Fifth, it is probably overstated that Indonesia is one of the three littoral states overlooking the Strait of Malacca. The other being Malaysia and Singapore. What should be emphasized even more deeply is the fact that Indonesia is the closest member of ASEAN to the areas occupied by 16 member states of the South Pacific Forum (SPF).

As and when Timor-Leste becomes a member of ASEAN, the distinction of being a power wielder in the east side of the Pacific will still be Indonesia, since its administrative capital is on the verge of being relocated to Nusantara in East Kalimantan. Indonesia also borders Papua New Guinea, another resource-rich country that has begun working with the United States in order to serve as a counterpoise to China’s increasing influence in the Solomon Islands.

Sixth, contrary to the portrayal of Indonesia as a country that is oblivious to deforestation, the presidency of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has time and again emphasized the importance of building a global future that is more ecologically friendly in nature. Green tourism, for example, is not a word that is anathema to the decision-makers in Indonesia.

To the degree that this lexicon has entered the official vocabulary of Indonesia, even projects such as Palm Oil Effluent Management (POME) are not something that Indonesian businessmen and government officials look askance at.

Seventh, Indonesia has a weak currency. The rupiah is known to fluctuate but one of the benefits of being a pivotal power is the willingness of other great powers to come up with a plan to redeem Indonesia. Although this can become a national embarrassment, even a political crisis, which the late president Soeharto found to his own detriment during the Asian financial crisis (1997-1998), subsequent decision-makers have been careful to ensure that Indonesia does not fall into the trap of being on the cusp of being rescued by anyone, let alone the International Monetary Fund.

Eight, as toxic as political Islam can be in some volatile parts of the Islamic world, Indonesia has not experienced a constant burst of radical religious extremism and outright violence. Densus 88, the counterterrorism squad established with the leadership of the former police chief, now the home minister, Tito Karnavian, is a hallmark of excellence.

Ninth, even if Indonesia fails to blossom as a democratic power, and becomes prone to right-wing autocracy, one should not dismiss the idea outright that Indonesians love the festivities and carnival-like atmosphere that come along with their one-day presidential and other elections; of which the next round will be coming up in early 2024.

In sum, Indonesia has what Gen. Luhut Pandjaitan, the coordinating maritime affairs and investment minister, has referred to as sakti (immense resilience). Within the system of international relations, the goodwill of Indonesia is forever needed especially in winning over the hearts and minds of the Global South.

Indonesia, together with Egypt, India, China and the now defunct Yugoslavia, was the pioneer of the first Afro-Asian Summit known as the Bandung Conference in 1955. What emerged from this event, which to this day has yet to be repeated, was the emphasis on “no hegemony, no imperialism and no colonialism”.

To the degree the world order seems out of whack, given the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, these three tenets hold true, which is why the majority of the world was adamantly against the Russian aggression in the United Nations Special General Assembly in March 2022 and once again in September 2022.

Indonesia is one of the key valves that continue to power the proverbial heart of the Global South. In this sense, Indonesia is a pan Indo-Pacific power.

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The writer is founder and CEO of Strategic Pan Indo Pacific Arena.