Pandemic a Test Case for Diplomacy

Indonesia has become a middle power in the world. The republic is assuming a greater responsibility and role while facing today’s challenges to demonstrate its capacity.

KOMPAS/B JOSIE SUSILO HARDIANTO

The United Nations Security Council convenes in September 2019 on the sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York City, the United States. Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi represented Indonesia at the council meeting.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The 75-year journey of Indonesian independence is also a benchmark of the nation’s attempts to promote bilateral, regional and international cooperation. On the principle of free and active foreign policy, Indonesia intends to join the quest for global solutions. The Covid-19 pandemic and ASEAN have emerged as test cases and at the same time, as a challenge for Indonesia in the diplomatic sphere. There remains hope that Indonesia is capable of demonstrating its capacity and identity as a middle power.

Undeniably, every government is currently focused on meeting and attending to national demands and interests. The pandemic has drained sectors across the board to undermine the resilience of many countries. In terms of diplomacy, the Covid-19 pandemic offers an opportunity for Indonesia to reawaken the spirit of multilateralism and international cooperation as it did when it led the way towards establishing Asian-African solidarity in 1955 and the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961.

In a special interview with Kompas last Thursday last week, Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi affirmed the role that each country could play in promoting universal welfare, most notably in encouraging a collective and global Covid-19 response.

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This was among the tasks initiated when Indonesia, along with Ghana, Singapore, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, passed the United Nations General Assembly resolution “Global solidarity to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)” by acclamation on 2 April 2020 at UN Headquarters in New York, the United States.

This resolution was later referred to when the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2532 for the maintenance of international peace and security, which took some time until its eventual adoption. According to Retno, the lag was due to some veto holders. However, the resolution was finally approved through Indonesia’s active involvement in several approaches.

Resolution 2532 is important because it provides the basis for ceasefires in many parts of the world. Its aim is to enable the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid to conflict areas and to empower local governments in Covid-19 control and prevention.

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KOMPAS/B JOSIE SUSILO HARDIANTO

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi (right) and her Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left), listen to a diplomat ahead of the United Nations Security Council in September 2019, held on the sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly in New York City, the United States.

In addition, Indonesia was also involved in the UN’s endeavor to ensure equitable access to future Covid-19 vaccines.

“What I was thinking of at the time wasn’t only Indonesia’s interests,” recalled Retno.

Referring to the International Cooperation Group (ICG) meeting in which Indonesia, Canada, Singapore, Turkey, Australia, Germany, France and South Africa participated, Retno said that South Africa indicated that African countries’ access to the Covid-19 vaccines constituted the key to the continent’s pandemic response. Indonesia, as a fellow developing country, responded by initiating a campaign for equitable access to future Covid-19 vaccines.

“We wanted to create a balance between fulfilling the national interest and contributing to world peace, stability and welfare,” added Retno.

What I was thinking of at the time wasn’t only Indonesia’s interests.

Consistency

On a regional scale, Retno noted Indonesia’s consistent encouragement of multilateral cooperation, as previously manifested in the Asian-African Conference in Bandung and the Non-Aligned Movement, which had been supplemented with the birth of ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific. Retno said that Indonesia did not intend ASEAN to become trapped by the rivalry among the world’s major forces in the region.

“It would be strange if ASEAN, at the center of the Indo-Pacific, did nothing, and we should not follow the concepts already put forward by other countries. Therefore, Indonesia suggested ASEAN should have its own concept, our own outlook on the Indo-Pacific. In the end, (after prolonged negotiations), the idea gathered support, and after its launch, nearly all partners accepted it and were ready to cooperate under ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific concept,” she said.

Contacted separately on Tuesday (18/8/2020), international relations professor Aleksius Jemadu of Pelita Harapan University and international relations lecturer Faisal Karim of Bina Nusantara University concurred that Indonesia was a traditional leader in the region.

“Indonesia should take a more concrete [role]. In the European Union, Germany and France play the part (of regional leader). In ASEAN, this is Indonesia’s role. ASEAN countries expect Indonesia to act at a higher level. Indonesia is the largest stakeholder in the region,” said Aleksius.

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KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI (

A golden garuda ornament adorns the Pancasila Building within the Foreign Ministry complex in Pejambon, Central Jakarta, as seen on Tuesday (18/8/2020). The historic structure was once home to a training center for the diplomatic corps and has continued to uphold this legacy, serving today as the venue of signing ceremonies and bilateral meetings.

Faisal shared his view, agreeing that Indonesia should expand its ties in Africa, the Asia-Pacific and other regions. But ASEAN should not simply be abandoned, because other countries would enter to direct the region unless Indonesia maintained its role in ASEAN as its traditional leader. Indonesia’s initiatives have repeatedly proven to encourage ASEAN to act with greater self-confidence.

Yet, Faisal said there were indications that Indonesia was noticeably focusing less on ASEAN, particularly in the recent past. This was attributed to some circles questioning the benefits of Indonesia leading ASEAN.

“Diplomacy indeed needs to have some impact, short-term as well as long-term. No less important is that diplomacy must follow a strategy. Otherwise, it will only seem reactive,” said Faisal, who researches foreign policy and diplomacy.

Diplomacy indeed needs to have some impact, short-term as well as long-term.

Referring to the case of the deaths of Indonesian fishermen aboard a foreign fishing vessel, Indonesia could have recommended creating of regional framework for migrant worker protection in the maritime sector. Despite its various active efforts to protect Indonesian citizens, the government is seen as being more reactive rather than actively developing frameworks for prevention.

Aleksius and Faisal both called for Indonesia to cement its identity in the global arena. In Faisal’s view, it has been long been held that President Joko Widodo had minimal interest in foreign policy whereas in actual fact, the Indonesian President should not neglect the role the country could play in the international scene. Indonesia needed to assume a greater role in line with its capacity.