Posted in: Foreign Policy

Prabowo should not be paying for diplomacy (but he should stop travelling so much)

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There is something profoundly unsettling about the suggestion that Indonesia's president might personally pay for his official overseas travel. Not because it reflects generosity, but because it reflects institutional failure.

Indonesia’s Malacca Strait ‘toll’ proposal violates UNCLOS. Is there an alternative?

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The idea is deeply controversial. If seriously proposed, it would face fierce opposition through legal, diplomatic, and even economic means. At the very least, it could hurt Indonesia’s credibility.

Loyalty over expertise: The patronage problem at the heart of Prabowo's foreign policy

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Two factors have placed Indonesian foreign policy in this uncomfortable position: the president's deep-seated distrust of the foreign policy establishment, and his inability — or unwillingness — to separate loyalty from expertise in assembling his foreign policy team.

Prabowo walks a fine line in responding to the Mideast crisis

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The unilateral attack by the United States and Israel on Iran that risks a costly regional war in the Middle East has raised scrutiny over Jakarta’s move to join US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace (BoP), which critics saw as aligning too closely with Washington.

Illegal and unfair: Indonesia should not ratify Donald Trump’s tariff deals

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Even without the bombshell Supreme Court decision, there are major problems with the Indonesia-US tariffs agreement.

One logic, two arenas: making sense of Prabowo’s Board of Peace decision

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While joining the Board of Peace offers short-term access to the US for Indonesia, the longer-term risks are more substantial.

Prabowo’s pick of Indonesian deputy envoy for China leaves questions

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With the absence of explanations from the Indonesian government regarding her credibility, Irene’s track record seems distant indeed from the profile of the sort of person who should be at the frontier of Indonesia’s diplomatic efforts at time of growing geopolitical tensions.

Prabowo’s Gaza engagement signals new foreign policy ambitions

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Prabowo has taken a gamble by leaving ASEAN behind to project a global role for Indonesia. But, realistically, Indonesia does not have the credibility or capability for such a role - especially as Prabowo is also seeking to spend trillions of rupiah to fund expensive populist policies such as  the nutritious free meal program.

Why Indonesia needs to negotiate with Trump on tariffs - but brace for the worst

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There are at least four reasons why Jakarta cannot afford to engage in a protracted trade war with Washington.

Indonesia at Melbourne is supported by:

Melbourne Law School Asia Institute Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society Indonesia Forum Faculty of Arts Indonesia Democracy Hallmark Research Initiative

Indonesia at Melbourne

Room 726, Level 7, 185 Pelham St,
The University of Melbourne
Parkville 3010 VIC Australia

Phone: +61 3 83448581

Email:  indo-at-melb@unimelb.edu.au

Date created: 1 July 2015

Editor: Ary Hermawan

Editorial board: 
Professor Tim Lindsey
Dr Tim Mann
Aron Corbett

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campuses are situated.

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