Indonesia Manages G20 Polarization

TURKISH PRESIDENCY VIA AP, POOL

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabiain, in a video conference from his Vahdettin Pavilion, in Istanbul, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. Erdogan said Sunday that Turkey sees itself as a part of Europe, but he called on the European Union to “keep your promises” on issues such as the country’s membership bid and refugees.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The government is working hard to ensure that Indonesia’s presidency of the Group of 20 in 2022 will produce positive results that are effective in responding to the current and future challenges of the world. For this reason, the polarization of G20 members in the aftermath of the Ukraine war will be managed so that it is not counterproductive to the global agendas that have been set.

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Indonesia's 2022 G20 presidency is facing the polarization of members as a result of the Ukraine crisis. On one side, there is the United States and its traditional allies. On the other side, there is Russia. Several other countries are not directly attached to one of the camps but have gradations of their respective proximity to the US camp or the Russian camp.

This includes responses if the crisis continues to escalate.

Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto in Jakarta, on Friday (3/18/2022), said that the government had prepared various alternative responses to the dynamics of the Ukrainian crisis that has spread to the Indonesia-led G20. This includes responses if the crisis continues to escalate.

“All components in the G20 presidency continue to communicate intensively with partner countries of the G20 to avoid counterproductive impacts. Indonesia's G20 presidency emphasizes that the response to the conflict will not cause the global economic recovery to deteriorate," said Airlangga.

For that reason, Airlangga continued, the government reminded members of the G20 that the birth of the group was aimed at overcoming crises, not creating crises. The government also emphasized that the G20 membership is based on solidity by promoting inclusive values.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto

The discussion on the economic impact of the Ukrainian crisis, according to Airlangga, may be unavoidable at the G20 meeting. However, the Indonesian presidency will continue to prioritize various solutions to global economic challenges, namely the availability of vaccines, digitalization, access to new and renewable energy and food security.

"The government continues to coordinate and communicate internally, both in the Sherpa Track and the Finance Track, and carry out discussions to address the developing situation due to the crisis in Ukraine and Indonesia's G20 presidency," he said.

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Separately, Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said the concrete challenge of Indonesia's G20 presidency was to ensure that G20 member countries remain focused on the main agenda of the G20, particularly efforts to recover the global economy.

"And avoiding, although not easy, the proliferation or excesses of the [Ukraine] crisis to the G20 forum," he said.

When asked about the constellation of the members of the G20 related to Russia, Faizasyah said, the Foreign Ministry was still continuing to map out the progress of the G20’s process and the conflict itself. However, it is at least predictable that the polarization in the global framework resulting from the conflict will be reflected in various international forums, including the G20.

The essence is that they can understand the scale of the problems and global dynamics that are occurring and they can focus on the main agenda of the G20.

For ministries and domestic institutions that are in charge of G20 activities, Faizasyah added, the Foreign Ministry provides assistance. The essence is that they can understand the scale of the problems and global dynamics that are occurring and they can focus on the main agenda of the G20.

“Currently, everything is still very dynamic and in process. The Foreign Ministry continues to explore various options," he said.

AFP/JULIEN DE ROSA

Protestors hold signs and Ukranian flags during a demonstration in Paris, on January 29, 2022 in support with Ukraine as Russian troops gathered at the Ukrainian-Russian border. - The Kremlin has deployed over 100,000 troops and heavy armour along Ukraine's borders, according to the West, which fears that the Kremlin will stage an incursion.

A lecturer in international law at the University of Indonesia, Aristyo Darmawan, said the presence of the US and its allies who were members of the Group of Seven and Russia is equally important. Without the G7 as a major global player, the G20 will lose its significance. On the other hand, Indonesia will lose its neutrality if it does not invite Russia to this year's series of G20 meetings.

"It will backfire, confirming Indonesia's alignment with the US," he said.

A lecturer at the School of Economics and Business at the University of Indonesia, Chatib Basri, said the G20 was a forum to actualize Indonesia's foreign policy. Therefore, these foreign policies must be the anchor for government decisions in Indonesia’s presidency of the G20 in 2022.

"We first determine our foreign policy. If our position is to maintain balance, what we must do is lobbying," he said.

(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswo)