From 21-23 August 2024, in Bali, Indonesia, Him Raksmey, Executive Director of CCRS, was invited to attend a Regional Workshop on “Indonesia’s Regional Role and Policy: Reality and Expectations”, organized by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia. This meeting aimed to brainstorm and exchange views among regional think tanks in order to provide relevant inputs for Indonesia’s regional strategy and foreign policy in the context of its bilateral relations with regional countries, and multilateral engagements in ASEAN amidst the evolving regional security environment. About 20 regional experts from Southeast Asia participated in this gathering. There were fruitful discussions.
CCRS’ ED shared his views on the importance of Indonesia in playing leadership roles in moving forward ASEAN to become a more effective regional institution to contribute to long-term peace, security and prosperity in the region. Amidst heightened geopolitical tensions and complex regional issues, Indonesia’s leadership is crucially needed in enhancing credibility of ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms in managing regional affairs, particularly traditional and non-traditional security challenges. ED also took the opportunity to network with representatives from regional think tanks in attendance during this workshop.
CCRS would like to congratulate and thank CSIS Indonesia for involving our think tank in this substantive regional workshop.
Key takeaways from this gathering included:
- Given its size and strategic weight, Indonesia has been long viewed as a natural leader in ASEAN. Since the formation of ASEAN in 1967, Jakarta has played many important leadership roles in many regional issues including the Cambodia Crisis during the 1980s and early 1990s. Unfortunately, domestic politics in Indonesia contributed to fluctuations in the country’s roles in regional affairs in some periods amidst the eve and after the turn of 21st century.
- Nevertheless, there are indications that Indonesia, under the upcoming President Prabowo Subianto’s government, wishes to play more proactive roles not only at the regional stage in ASEAN but also at the global fora.
- Amidst regional security challenges such as US-China rivalry, South China Sea, Taiwan and Myanmar Crisis, key relevant questions have been raised in many Southeast Asian states including Indonesia, particularly the question of future relevance of ASEAN in managing regional affairs. It is important that all ASEAN members balance carefully their respective national interests, and regional interests so as to shape the collective direction and action of ASEAN in a way that helps promote long-term regional security and prosperity.
