Summary
Indonesia's geopolitical strategy within the Indo-Pacific region is crucial for maintaining regional stability and fostering cooperation. The strategic landscape of the Indo-Pacific, shaped by major global powers such as the United States and China, presents both challenges and opportunities for Indonesia. This policy brief outlines Indonesia's strategic approach, leveraging ASEAN centrality, hedging strategies, and proactive diplomacy to navigate the complexities of Indo-Pacific security dynamics.
Introduction
The Indo-Pacific region has emerged as a critical geopolitical arena, with significant economic, political, and security implications. Indonesia, situated strategically between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, plays a pivotal role in shaping the regional security architecture. Indonesia's geopolitical strategy focuses on maintaining regional stability, promoting economic cooperation, and ensuring maritime security. This brief delves into Indonesia's strategic framework, examining its defence strategies, diplomatic initiatives, and the role of ASEAN in achieving these goals.
Regional Security Complex
The concept of a regional security complex, as outlined by Buzan and Wæver (2003), is instrumental in understanding the security dynamics of the Indo-Pacific. The regional security complex theory (RSCT) explains the interconnectedness of security issues within a specific geographical area, where the security concerns of one state cannot be separated from those of its neighbours. In the Indo-Pacific, this theory highlights the intricate web of relationships and security concerns among Southeast Asian countries, influenced by the strategic interests of major powers like the United States and China.
The Indo-Pacific Strategy, particularly the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) advocated by the United States and Japan, has significantly impacted the regional security landscape. This strategy emphasizes freedom of navigation, respect for international law, and strengthening regional connectivity, directly influencing Southeast Asian security dynamics (Oktaviano, Mahroza, & Risman, 2020).
Indonesia's Defence Strategy
Indonesia's defence strategy in the Indo-Pacific is multifaceted, encompassing military preparedness, defence diplomacy, and regional cooperation. Indonesia's defence policy is guided by the principle of a "free and active" foreign policy, avoiding entanglement in formal alliances while actively engaging in regional security dialogues (Kementerian Pertahanan, 2015a).
Military Preparedness
Indonesia's military strategy focuses on enhancing its defence capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This involves modernizing the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), improving maritime surveillance, and strengthening defence infrastructure. The development of a robust defence industry is also a priority, aimed at achieving self-reliance in defence procurement (Gindarsah, 2016).
Defence Diplomacy
Defence diplomacy plays a crucial role in Indonesia's strategy to navigate the Indo-Pacific security landscape. Indonesia actively participates in regional security forums, such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and the ADMM-Plus, which include dialogue partners like the United States, China, Japan, and Australia. These forums facilitate confidence-building measures, joint exercises, and collaborative initiatives to address common security challenges (Lubis, 2018).
Regional Cooperation
Indonesia leverages its central position within ASEAN to promote regional cooperation and stability. The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), initiated by Indonesia, emphasizes ASEAN centrality, inclusivity, and respect for international law as foundational principles for regional cooperation. The AOIP seeks to enhance economic cooperation, maritime security, and connectivity, fostering a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific (ASEAN Secretariat, 2019a).
Indonesia's Diplomatic Initiatives
Indonesia's diplomatic strategy in the Indo-Pacific is characterized by proactive engagement, multilateralism, and balancing great power influences. Indonesia's diplomatic initiatives are aimed at promoting regional stability, fostering economic cooperation, and addressing transnational challenges.
Proactive Engagement
Indonesia engages proactively with both regional and extraregional partners to address security concerns and enhance cooperation. This includes bilateral and multilateral dialogues, strategic partnerships, and participation in regional forums such as the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Indonesia's diplomatic efforts focus on building consensus, promoting dialogue, and preventing conflicts (Marsudi, 2019).
Multilateralism
Indonesia advocates for a multilateral approach to regional security, emphasizing the importance of ASEAN-led mechanisms. The AOIP reflects this commitment to multilateralism, promoting cooperation in areas such as maritime security, economic development, and disaster management. Indonesia's support for multilateralism is rooted in its belief that collective action is essential for addressing complex regional challenges (ASEAN Secretariat, 2019a).
Balancing Great Power Influences
Indonesia adopts a hedging strategy to balance the influences of major powers like the United States and China. This strategy involves maintaining strategic autonomy while engaging with both powers to safeguard national interests. Indonesia's hedging strategy is evident in its diplomatic efforts to foster cooperation with China through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) while simultaneously strengthening security ties with the United States (Gindarsah, 2016).
The Role of ASEAN
ASEAN centrality is a cornerstone of Indonesia's geopolitical strategy in the Indo-Pacific. Indonesia views ASEAN as a platform for regional cooperation, conflict resolution, and collective security. The AOIP, as an extension of Indonesia's strategic vision, reinforces ASEAN's role in shaping the regional security architecture.
ASEAN Centrality
ASEAN centrality refers to the principle that ASEAN should remain at the core of regional security and economic initiatives. This principle underpins the AOIP, which seeks to ensure that ASEAN remains the primary platform for dialogue and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. By emphasizing ASEAN centrality, Indonesia aims to prevent the region from becoming a battleground for great power rivalry (Acharya, 2019).
Collective Security
ASEAN's collective security mechanisms, such as the ADMM and ADMM-Plus, provide platforms for regional defence cooperation and confidence-building measures. These mechanisms facilitate joint exercises, information sharing, and capacity building among ASEAN member states and dialogue partners. Indonesia actively participates in these initiatives to enhance regional security and stability (Lubis, 2018).
Economic Cooperation
The AOIP emphasizes economic cooperation as a means to promote regional stability and prosperity. Indonesia advocates for initiatives that enhance regional connectivity, trade, and investment. This includes supporting infrastructure development, promoting sustainable development, and fostering economic integration within the Indo-Pacific region (ASEAN Secretariat, 2019a).
Policy Recommendations
To effectively navigate the security dynamics of the Indo-Pacific, Indonesia should adopt the following policy recommendations:
Strengthen Defence Capabilities
- Continue to modernize the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and enhance maritime surveillance capabilities.
- Invest in the domestic defence industry to achieve self-reliance in defence procurement.
Enhance Defence Diplomacy
- Actively participate in regional security forums such as the ADMM and ADMM-Plus.
- Foster confidence-building measures and joint exercises with regional and extraregional partners.
Promote ASEAN Centrality
- Advocate for ASEAN centrality in regional security and economic initiatives.
- Support the implementation of the AOIP to enhance regional cooperation and stability.
Balance Great Power Influences
- Maintain strategic autonomy while engaging with both the United States and China.
- Leverage Indonesia's central position within ASEAN to balance great power influences and safeguard national interests.
Foster Economic Cooperation
- Promote initiatives that enhance regional connectivity, trade, and investment.
- Support sustainable development and economic integration within the Indo-Pacific region.
Address Transnational Challenges
- Collaborate with regional and extraregional partners to address transnational challenges such as maritime security, terrorism, and disaster management.
- Enhance regional cooperation mechanisms to effectively tackle these challenges.
Conclusion
Indonesia's geopolitical strategy in the Indo-Pacific is crucial for maintaining regional stability and fostering cooperation. By leveraging ASEAN centrality, adopting a hedging strategy, and engaging in proactive diplomacy, Indonesia can navigate the complexities of the Indo-Pacific security landscape. The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, as an extension of Indonesia's strategic vision, emphasizes inclusivity, multilateralism, and respect for international law. These principles, coupled with robust defence capabilities and diplomatic initiatives, will enable Indonesia to play a pivotal role in shaping the regional security architecture and promoting a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
References
Acharya, A. (2019). Why ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific outlook matters | East Asia Forum. East Asia Forum. Available at: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2019/08/11/why-aseans-indo-pacific-outlook-matters/ (Accessed: 28 December 2019).
ASEAN Secretariat. (2019a). ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Jakarta: ASEAN Secretariat.
ASEAN Secretariat. (2019b). Chair’s Statement of the 34th ASEAN Summit Bangkok, 23 June 2019 Advancing Partnership For Sustainability. Jakarta: ASEAN Secretariat.
Buzan, B., & Wæver, O. (2003). Regions and Powers: The Structure of International Security. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Gindarsah, I. (2016). Strategic hedging in Indonesia’s defense diplomacy. Defence and Security Analysis, 32(4), 336–353.
Kementerian Pertahanan. (2015a). Buku Putih Pertahanan. Jakarta.
Kementerian Pertahanan. (2015b). Buku Strategi Pertahanan Negara 2015. Jakarta.
Lubis, R. R. (2018). Kebijakan Poros Maritim dan Keamanan Nasional Indonesia: Tantangan dan Harapan. Jurnal Pertahanan & Bela Negara, 7(3), 107–121.
Marsudi, R. (2019). Indonesia: Partner for peace, security, prosperity. Speech, 9 January.
Oktaviano, D., Mahroza, J., & Risman, H. (2020). Indonesia Defense Strategy Towards Indo-Pacific (Case Study: The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific). International Affairs and Global Strategy, 80, 21-27.
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