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Indonesia’s quiet ASEAN leadership calls for optimism
A “self-effacing approach” may be Indonesia’s best bet when it comes to resolving some pressing ASEAN issues, analysts say, though there is no guarantee on effectiveness until the outcomes make themselves known.
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Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi speaks during a United Nations Security Council session on Jan. 18, in New York, the United States. (The Jakarta Post/Courtesy of Foreign Ministry)
E
xpect Indonesia to continue adopting a “quiet diplomacy” approach for the rest of its ASEAN chairmanship this year, analysts have said amid growing frustration over the perceived lack of transparency surrounding urgent issues.
Indonesia is gearing up for its first ASEAN Summit this year, to be held in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara in May, away from the prying eyes of keen observers.
Unlike the ubiquitous fanfare of last year’s Group of 20 presidency, Jakarta has opted for an understated approach to ASEAN this year, which is faced with a number of challenges that could undermine its credibility.
More than three months into its year-long chairmanship, the government has offered few updates on its regional security agenda, while remaining conspicuously silent on difficult issues such as the Myanmar coup crisis.
Last Wednesday, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi told reporters that “everything is on the right track” vis-a-vis its diplomatic efforts, as urgent issues like South China Sea tensions and the Myanmar crisis continued to bubble.
With a reluctance to share progress on such issues, observers, activists and the general public have grown increasingly baffled, prompting them to call on Jakarta to increase its community involvement and engagement.
But a “self-effacing approach” may be Indonesia’s best bet when it comes to resolving some of the most pressing issues, some say, although there is no guarantee of its effectiveness until the outcomes make themselves known.
