Indonesia’s strategic use of Asean in balancing regional and global power dynamics

Abstract

Indonesia, a prominent emerging power in Southeast Asia, occupies a strategically vital position in the Indo-Pacific region. Under former President Joko Widodo, Indonesia embraced the vision of becoming a "Global Maritime Fulcrum" while striving to assert itself as a global political and economic force. This ambition unfolds amidst the evolving and polarised global order, where the Indo-Pacific emerges as a hotspot for geopolitical rivalries, notably between the United States and China. Strategic initiatives such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), India’s Act East Policy, Russia’s Turn to the East, and the United States’ Pivot to Asia present both opportunities and challenges to Indonesia’s pursuit of its national interests. ASEAN serves as Indonesia’s diplomatic instrument to navigate these rivalries. By advocating for ASEAN centrality, Indonesia works to prevent member states from aligning exclusively with rival powers, thereby safeguarding regional stability and protecting its national interests. However, the very principle of ASEAN centrality can also limit Indonesia’s ability to prioritise its own strategic objectives independently. This paper examines how Indonesia leverages its leadership role in ASEAN to create a regional sphere of influence while simultaneously engaging with global institutions such as the UN, WTO, G-20, and BRICS. Special attention is given to initiatives like the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) that expand ASEAN’s strategic reach. The analysis further explores Indonesia’s evolving foreign policy under its newly elected leadership in 2024, which signals a more proactive global engagement while maintaining ASEAN at the forefront of its regional strategy. The paper argues that Indonesia’s dual commitment to regional and global organisations reveals both opportunities and constraints in its journey to achieving great power status.