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Indonesia’s  president’s intention in the Gaza issue and its role as an intermediary in the future peace efforts in the region post-Gaza summit marks an important step in projecting Indonesia's role as a global bridge builder. However, this ambition risks being undermined, and its further role could be hindered by the existing cases Indonesia faces in handling regional crises closer to home. The ongoing crises in Myanmar and the escalating Thailand–Cambodia tensions have chal

Security and strategy have been the guiding principles in today’s geopolitical scenario. The ASEAN, or Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has been at the forefront of ensuring a secure and stable world. At the core of it lies a critical region, the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific has been witnessing an evolving nature of geopolitics and is significant for regional groupings like ASEAN and QUAD. The QUAD, comprising the United States, India, Australia, and Japan, stands fo

Reform within Indonesia’s diplomatic machinery has become increasingly urgent. The global landscape both political and economic is undergoing rapid and profound transformation. Traditional alliances are being redefined, new blocs are emerging, and the once-stable rules of global trade are now in flux. Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to prominence has once again disrupted the foundations of multilateralism, while protectionist tendencies and great-power rivalries f

Introduction   In today’s world of rapidly shifting alliances and contested borders, regions that succeed are not the ones that rely only on geography or shared history, but those investing in building meaningful linkages among their people, economies, and institutions. Perhaps, Southeast Asia offers the most compelling examples. Despite its cultural diversity and political differences, ASEAN has managed to turn its neighbourhood into a community bound by trust and interdepen

Introduction The India-ASEAN narrative has evolved from a position of optimism in 2017 as the dialogue partnership turned 25, to a narrative of resurgence in 2022, and finally, the narrative of strategic repositioning and imperative reclamation as of today. What started as an executionary mechanism to  India’s Look East Policy  has now given rise to a regional partnership that has withstood geopolitical tremors and a systemic dismantling of the global order.  As regional stra

The relationship between India and ASEAN goes way far, beyond trade and strategy, rooted in centuries of cultural exchanges and shared heritage. India and ASEAN both recognise and underscore the importance of people-to-people diplomacy, and how it is becoming an important element of state-led initiatives as both regions continue to negotiate a multipolar world. India-ASEAN relations are often narrated through a simplified filter: India is seen as a counterbalance to U.S. inte

Introduction  As the world has been becoming increasingly influenced by digital infrastructure, a rising trust gap is developing around global tech ecosystems. Countries are becoming increasingly cautious about the excessive use of  Western or Chinese platforms  due to data colonization, spying, and economic blackmail. The concept of digital non-alignment has gained popularity: as geopolitical fault lines become more pronounced, the concept of developing sovereign, interopera

Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous nation and Southeast Asia’s largest economy, is preparing one of the region’s most ambitious clean energy transformations. In June 2025, the state utility PLN launched its new Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) 2025-2034, placing renewable energy at the center of the country’s power future. The scale is striking: nearly 70 gigawatts of new capacity by 2034, with more than three-quarters sourced from renewables and storage. For

Since the recent U.S. election, many foreign policy thinkers and observers in Southeast Asia have expressed concerns about the potential impacts of a second Trump administration. Among their worries are the planned blanket 20% tariffs, reduced climate commitments and support to regional and multilateral mechanisms, and more importantly, increased security risk among key geopolitical flashpoints in the region, including in Southeast Asia. Given the predominantly cautious view

In 1966, French president Charles de Gaulle withdrew France from the integrated military command of Nato, on the grounds that the United States’ dominance of the transatlantic security alliance undermined not only French sovereignty but that of other European members. He later signed a cooperation agreement with the Soviet Union, showing by example what autonomous foreign policies could look like for a Europe of sovereign states. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, many Europea

The past week offered a glimpse into a new era in China’s relations with Southeast Asia. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on August 31–September 1 and China’s Victory Day Parade on September 3 served as a diplomatic stage –and Southeast Asian heads of state from Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar were visibly present. Their attendance underscored a deeper reality: China’s neighborhood diplomacy has reached an inflection poin

In August, Indonesia’s largest maritime manufacturing company, the state-owned PT PAL , hosted a visit for US Congress Staffers from New York, California, South Carolina, West Virginia, Nevada, and Washington. The meeting was aimed at exploring and strengthening cooperation between Indonesia and the United States, particularly in the maritime defence and industries sector. At the meeting, PT PAL stated that they were ready to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) se

It cannot be denied that the current world order is in transition. Conversations and public discourse in various international forums are raising similar and resonant questions—has the unipolar world of the United States reached its end, and what comes next? Is it multipolar? Or will we witness the resurgence of a Cold War 2.0 with the rivalry between the US and China? However, a new group of countries, known as the middle powers, has emerged. They possess sufficient politica

The global order is in disarray. Great power competition is intensifying, multilateral institutions are weakening, and long-standing alliances are under strain. Conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, economic fragmentation, climate shocks, and the erosion of global norms have deepened a sense of instability. The war in Ukraine has redrawn geopolitical fault lines, while violence in Gaza and regional tensions in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf threaten global trade flows. At th

After shelving its nuclear energy ambitions in 2016, Vietnam is now giving atomic power another chance. The reversal stems from both desperation and ambition – the crippling blackouts of 2023 that shuttered factories, mounting pressure from Western partners to abandon coal, and a newly consolidated leadership eager to project technological prowess. However, Vietnam needs to surmount several challenges to meet this renewed ambition. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s administr

U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to the Indo-Pacific has been defined less by strategic foresight than by political undoing. In his first term, he withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership , exited the Paris Climate Agreement , sidelined ASEAN, and undermined multilateral diplomacy. Now in his second term, the pattern continues. He withdrew from the Paris agreement – again. The Pentagon has launched a formal review of AUKUS , the trilateral alliance

What is the fundamental contradiction shaping our world today? Some might say it’s the dichotomy between democracy and autocracy – a staple of former US president Joe Biden’s world view. However, that perspective seems outdated. Biden’s successor, Donald Trump, is well known for being transactional. Last month he said Washington would lift sanctions on Syria, although the country’s new government hasn’t put it on the path to democracy. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has

O n Tuesday, the Republic of Korea held a historic presidential election, following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol in late 2024. This marked only the second time in South Korea’s democratic history that an election has followed an impeachment, underscoring the strength of its institutional framework.  Despite recent political turbulence, the election proceeded peacefully and with an unprecedented voter turnout of 79.4 percent, the highest in nearly three decades.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s South China Sea policy has many contradictions and inconsistencies, particularly regarding China’s nine-dash line. In separate joint statements Indonesia has shown an inconsistent stance on China’s maritime claims. Indonesia’s parliament is in the process of   ratifying a treaty signed with Vietnam last year,  delimiting their exclusive economic zones in the South China Sea. Prabowo is committed to ratifying the treaty and is planning

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on his first international visit set defence, trade and investment firmly at the center of the agenda. Albanese was welcomed to the palace by dozens of soldiers on horseback, around 3,000 school children waving flags, and a military ceremony, a typical reception for a foreign leader under Prabowo’s administration.  While the visit signals that Indonesia is a clear priority for the

Twenty-two hours from New York, I recently landed in Jakarta for a whirlwind three-day visit. From ministerial offices to coffee shops, from formal interviews to off-the-record conversations with government officials, business leaders and journalists, a common thread emerged everywhere I went: Indonesia is brimming with ambition, but carrying a quiet, persistent worry. The ambition is unmistakable. Officials speak of unlocking 8 percent growth, building industrial strength an

Amid an intensifying geopolitical rivalry, Japan’s strategic posture remains resilient and relevant to regional peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. In April 2023, Japan announced a new initiative named “Official Security Assistance (OSA)”, aiming to “deepen security cooperation” with like-minded countries by “providing equipment and supplies as well as assistance for infrastructure development” to foster their security and deterrence capabilities. A document post

In the era of heightened geopolitical competition in nascent technologies, it is tempting to view the artificial intelligence (AI) race as centred around two key players – the United States and China. At the Politburo’s April 25 economic-analysis meeting , Chinese President Xi called upon the nation to “achieve self-reliance and strength”, according to a Xinhua readout, and “secure a competitive edge in AI” – stopping short of naming the US. Reciprocally, the US views China’

This piece discusses President Xi Jinping's recent trip to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia from April 14–18, 2025, through a Southeast Asian perspective. The trip highlights its significance for Southeast Asia and sheds light on ASEAN's relations with major global powers. In essence, President Xi leveraged the global uncertainty caused by Trump’s tariffs to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian neighbors. Three key highlights of the trips stand out and are easy to remember. Fi

The recent state visit by China’s President Xi Jinping to Phnom Penh, capped by 37 new agreements and a pledge to deepen an “all-weather Cambodia-China community of shared future”, was intended to reaffirm Beijing’s centrality in Cambodia’s foreign policy. But the visit coincided with Phnom Penh’s ongoing recalibration of its external engagement – carefully balancing ties with Beijing while opening space for deeper engagement with the West. Since taking office in 2023, Prime

As Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his April tours of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, Beijing’s message to Southeast Asia was unambiguous: China offers stability and partnership in contrast to American “unilateral bullying,” “hegemonism,” and “protectionism.” The timing of the visit could hardly be more opportune. Like the rest of the world, Southeast Asia has been reeling from Trump’s “Liberation Day” reciprocal tariffs. His proposed levies—as high as 49 per cent—

Since Indonesia’s election period, President Prabowo Subianto—then still a presidential candidate—advocated for a “good neighbor” approach in shaping the country’s foreign policy. While this concept was not elaborated in detail, many assumed and encouraged Prabowo’s government to better articulate this idea to more grounded initiatives. Borneo offers a compelling case study in this regard, thanks to its strategic geographical location and abundance of natural resources and bi

Donald Trump’s neglect of Southeast Asia, coupled with controversial foreign policy decisions like his Gaza proposal and the abolishment of USAID, is eroding US credibility and trust in the region. As ASEAN states seek alternative partnerships with middle powers and China capitalises on Washington’s missteps, America risks losing its strategic influence in the Indo-Pacific. Only a few weeks back into the White House, it seems that Donald Trump has already lost credibility and

More than a decade since the announcement of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the ambitious project faces mounting scrutiny, despite its outward appearance of driving rapid development growth. The so-called BRI 2.0 vision, which promises to  be “smaller, greener, and smarter,” is Beijing’s response to widespread criticism of the earlier phase of the BRI. Cambodia, a key BRI recipient, offers a revealing case study of China’s evolving strategy. Between 2000 and 2021, C

OUR contemporary world is undergoing a transformation marked by global geopolitical tussles while economic, technological and social landscapes continue to evolve rapidly. The era of a unipolar world dominated by singular, major powers are behind us – paving the way to a fragmented multipolar framework, characterized by competing centres of influence. This emerging global order can sometimes be better understood as an “interpolar world” – multipolarity in the age of interdepe

Many foreign policy thinkers and observers in Southeast Asia are concerned about the potential impact of a second Donald Trump presidency in the U.S. Among their worries are trade tariffs, reduced climate commitments, and, more importantly, increased security risks around key geopolitical flashpoints in the region. Given the predominantly cautious view of Trump's return to the White House, it raises a question: Is there any upside for Southeast Asia with Trump 2.0, or is it e

The latest Brics summit in Kazan, Russia, was attended by 36 leaders and top officials, as more countries seek to join the grouping that appears to offer an alternative to the Western-led system. A geopolitical bloc, Brics – named after its earliest members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – is also increasingly a geoeconomic bloc as economic partnerships grow. Member states now include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while partner coun

After reviewing the foreign policy platforms of two of Indonesia’s three presidential candidates, Prabowo Subianto and Ganjar Pranowo , this article will extend this analysis to the third and final candidate, Anies Baswedan. Since announcing his candidacy in September 2023, this former governor of Jakarta has run with a narrative of “change,” and has opposed many of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s policies. Anies is arguably knowledgeable in international affairs, consideri

Continuing on from my previous analysis of the foreign policy orientation of Indonesian presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo, this article will examine where Prabowo Subianto stands on these issues. Prabowo, Indonesia’s current minister of defense, is running for the presidency for the third time, after falling short against President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in 2014 and 2019. Since contesting the 2014 election, Prabowo has been regarded as knowledgeable on foreign policy and w

In Indonesia, the upcoming general election in February 2024 is now well and truly dominating the news. Three pairs of presidential and vice-presidential candidates have now registered to run in the election, and are busy announcing their competing visions regarding the economy, human capital development, legal reform, and technological advancement. Undoubtedly, one of the least discussed topics is foreign policy. This issue is rarely in the spotlight due to a significant pri

The ASEAN Summit week in early September was filled with various impressions. To start, businesses convened the ASEAN Business & Investment Summit (ABIS) and followed with government-led ASEAN Leaders meetings, along with more conversations at the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF). Thousands of policy wonks, industry captains, and entrepreneurs from around the world gathered in the busy and vibrant city of Jakarta. For years, ASEAN has been regarded as a normative regional grou

On the 23rd of December, during Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to Jakarta to meet President Joko Widodo, Indonesia and Vietnam finally signed an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) delimitation agreement after 12 years of long negotiations. Indeed, maritime delimitation agreements between States have normally taken many years to conclude. However, the recent EEZ agreement between Indonesia and Vietnam is important since it has implications for the region, especially

Yet from a broader perspective, Trong’s visit is a careful hedging act that reflects the complexity of Vietnam’s internal politics and external geopolitical environment. Given the economic dependency, security concerns and ideological links between Vietnam and China, Hanoi’s attitude towards its big neighbour is more complex than the binary view often held by the West. Vietnam remains somewhere between a frontline state in the Indo-Pacific for the United States and a well-beh

The journey of Indonesia’s G20 Presidency finally ends with the Leaders’ Declaration announced in Bali consensually agreed upon by all parties. The euphoria of Indonesia’s leadership in the past year through working and side meetings was closed with a substantial output that was often doubted. With this, at least the most fundamental and principal legacy of Indonesia’s G20 Chairmanship is the continued trust towards multilateralism and global cooperation that is very much ref