Limited preferential trade agreement coverage and suboptimal utilization of existing agreements have prevented Indonesia from fully realizing its trade potential in South America. This situation risks sustaining dependence on traditional markets while limiting exporters’ competitiveness due to tariffs, regulatory barriers, and high logistics costs. This paper recommends a phased institutional…
The development of Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (AIMD) raises risks of conflict escalation, miscalculation, and violations of international humanitarian law. This paper recommends a dual-track diplomatic strategy for Indonesia: promoting multilateral governance based on accountability, traceability, and meaningful human control, while advocating prohibition or strict limits on…
Artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and challenges for Indonesia’s digital economy, particularly for MSMEs and informal workers facing limited digital literacy. This paper proposes strengthening the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ role within APEC to promote human centered digital inclusion through national policy coordination, cross ministerial capacity building initiativ…
Europe’s ageing population and labour shortages create opportunities for Indonesia to expand skilled-worker placements. However, realizing this potential requires stronger vocational training, certification, legal protection, and interagency coordination. This paper recommends an Integrated National Action Plan for 2027–2036, focusing on aligning vocational education with European labour de…
The pressure driven and transactional approach of US foreign policy under Trump presents challenges to Indonesia’s strategic autonomy. This paper proposes a Strategic Transactionalism strategy to address trade pressure, diplomatic demands, and domestic polarization risks. The strategy includes a Ministry of Foreign Affairs-led coordination framework, risk monitoring, stronger ASEAN coalitions…
US-China competition over critical minerals governance creates opportunities for Indonesia to strengthen its role as a major producer of nickel and other strategic minerals. This paper proposes proactive multilateral rule-shaping through the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the establishment of the Jakarta Forum on Critical Minerals as a platform for producer-count…
Indonesia’s concentrated export markets and exposure to global economic disruptions highlight the need to diversify trade partnerships. South Africa presents an opportunity to expand Indonesia’s non-oil-and-gas exports and strengthen economic engagement with Southern Africa. This policy brief recommends a dual-track strategy that uses South Africa as a political anchor while engaging the So…
Indonesia’s regional diplomacy remains underutilized due to ad hoc provincial partnerships, uneven local government capacity, fragmented reporting, and limited alignment with national economic diplomacy priorities. Despite an established legal framework for coordinating foreign affairs, many sister-city and sister-province agreements have yet to produce tangible outcomes. This policy brief re…
Indonesia’s foreign policy faces challenges of institutional incoherence amid US–China rivalry and expanding sectoral diplomacy. This paper proposes a Disciplined Ideocracy model to strengthen the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ role in maintaining consistent foreign policy based on the principle of bebas aktif. The proposed reforms include a 48-hour rapid clearance protocol, a specialized l…
Digital transformation in Indonesian diplomacy requires stronger sovereign control over communication between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas missions. The Overseas Diplomatic Communication System (SKD) plays a crucial role in transmitting diplomatic instructions, coordinating crisis responses, and protecting Indonesian citizens abroad. This paper proposes strengthening SKD as an i…