TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stressed that the country's foreign politics are not transactional in nature. The statement was relayed during a Yearly Press Statement of Foreign Minister 2024 in Merdeka Building, Bandung on Monday.

The foreign policy conceived in the middle of a world that is uncertain and full of challenges, she said. In response, Indonesia managed to maintain a consistent, free and active policy-based, and prioritize national interest while contributing to world peace.

"Indonesia's foreign politics is not a transactional one," she said. Indonesia's diplomacy, she believes, is a measured and calculated one, as well as action and result-oriented.

During the beginning of President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's administration, there were three big questions on the direction of Indonesia's foreign politics.

"Is it inward-looking? Is the spirit of multilateralism appropriate for Indonesia? How and in what way will Indonesia have a role in the international community?" she said.

According to her, these three questions have been answered during the past nine years, "bold and crystal clear".

Retno Marsudi presented the five priorities of the Foreign Ministry during the start of Jokowi's administration. These were economic diplomacy, Indonesian citizen protection, sovereign diplomacy, Indonesia's diplomacy for peace and stability in the region and the world, as well as strengthening the infrastructure of diplomacy.

Concerning economic diplomacy, Retno mentioned that Indonesia has inked 27 trade and economic agreements since 2014. In the case of citizen protection, Retno Marsudi reported to have solved 218,313 cases involving Indonesian nationals abroad.

On sovereignty diplomacy, Indonesia has resolved six border agreements during her time. Minister Retno Marsudi also referred to the Lowy Institute Asia Power Index 2023 that mentioned Indonesia as a middle power in Asia. The minister claimed the mark of Indonesia's diplomacy is felt by the region and the world for the past 10 years.

"It is clear that Indonesia is one of the main players in the region and the world, not an observer," she said.

Indonesia's foreign policies were criticized by running presidential candidate Anies Baswedan in November, citing foreign media such as The Economist and national media such as The Jakarta Post.

"Various parties assessed that so far, our foreign politics are still transactional," he said, quoted from Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) YouTube livestream. "Meaning, Indonesia takes action if it provides investment benefits and trade benefits, and not because of its obligation as part of the international community," he concluded.

NABIILA AZZAHRA

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