January 16, 2026 | 12:31 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Lina Alexandra, Head of the Department of International Relations at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has significant opportunities to strengthen its role in regional diplomacy, responding to Foreign Minister Sugiono’s Annual Press Statement (PPTM) 2026 delivered a day earlier.
“We see many opportunities that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should seize, provided diplomatic roles are carried out with greater focus, clear priorities, and alignment with Indonesia’s actual capacity,” Lina said during the CSIS Media Briefing: Responding to the Annual Press Statement of the Foreign Minister (PPTM) 2026 in Jakarta on Thursday.
According to Lina, one concrete way to demonstrate clearer focus and prioritization is by strengthening Indonesia’s diplomatic engagement at the regional level, particularly within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“Indonesia’s diplomatic posture, which reflects global ambitions, is not wrong. However, it should begin with a stronger and more visible regional role,” she said.
Lina noted that even though Indonesia is not currently chairing ASEAN, it is widely expected to continue exercising leadership alongside the ASEAN chair, particularly in addressing ongoing crises involving Thailand and Cambodia.
“This expectation is reasonable, given Indonesia’s relevant diplomatic experience in similar situations,” she said.
However, Lina criticized the limited attention given to ASEAN in the PPTM 2026.
She said ASEAN was mentioned only briefly and framed more as a list of aspirations than a strategic priority.
“Just like last year, ASEAN appeared to be placed somewhat in the background. Its portion was not significant and again came across as a wishing list: ASEAN should be central, ASEAN should be strong, and so on,” she said.
Lina also questioned Indonesia’s strategic contribution amid increasing global uncertainty, especially as the country is set to assume the post of ASEAN Secretary-General on January 1, 2028.
“The role of regional organizations like ASEAN is crucial. And we should not forget that on January 1, 2028, Indonesia will take on the role of ASEAN Secretary-General,” she said.
She highlighted the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as an ASEAN-led platform that could play a vital role in navigating global economic uncertainty, including tensions arising from the US-China trade war. This issue was notably absent from the PPTM 2026.
She further pointed to what she described as a disconnect between the Foreign Ministry’s framing of global challenges and the policy responses outlined in the statement.
She acknowledged that Sugiono had listed multiple sources of global uncertainty and referenced the concept of a “multiplex world,” borrowed from scholar Amitav Acharya.
However, Lina questioned how the concept was applied.
“What exactly is a multiplex world? In everyday terms, a multiplex is a building that houses multiple cinemas. So what does that mean in the context of global politics? What is the concept?” she asked.
Lina said she could not find a clear explanation of how Indonesia plans to promote cooperation with other countries to collectively manage global turbulence, particularly in response to unilateral actions by major powers.
“If the United States is pursuing bilateral actions that disrupt or violate international legal norms, what can Indonesia do? And beyond acting alone, how can Indonesia encourage cooperation with other countries to navigate this turbulence together? That answer was not evident in the PPTM,” she said.
Read: Indonesia Secures 10 Positions in International Bodies, Minister Says
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