Overhauling Indonesia’s Foreign Policy: How and Where to Start?
Indonesia stands at a crossroads in redefining its foreign policy to match its growing global weight and ambitions. A genuine overhaul must begin with a clear articulation of national interests, supported by strategic use of three key pillars: foreign policy instruments, channels, and diplomatic infrastructure. Economic diplomacy should move beyond transactional goals to shaping global economic governance, while security diplomacy must balance national defense with proactive contributions to peacebuilding and maritime stability. Regionally, Indonesia must revitalize ASEAN’s unity and leadership while engaging selectively in mini- and multilateral platforms that align with long-term strategic interests. At the institutional level, diplomacy must transition from performative to substantive, supported by a recalibrated network of missions, specialized expertise, inter-ministerial coordination, and adequate funding. A confident and strategic Indonesia—rooted in its “independent and active” principle yet outward-looking and contributive—can assert itself as a credible middle power shaping a fairer, more stable multipolar order.