The National Security Podcast Indonesia’s evolving role in the Indo-Pacific and beyond
Aug 28, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Natalie Sambhi, Founder of Verve Research, and Yohanes Sulaiman, Associate Professor at Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani, delve into Indonesia's shifting foreign policy under President Prabowo. They explore Indonesia's transition from non-alignment to multi-alignment and its strategic relations with major players like the U.S. and China. The conversation also covers how Australia can enhance its cooperation with Indonesia and the importance of cultural exchanges and historical ties in strengthening their dynamic relationship.
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Ambitious Style Lacks Strategic Purpose
- Prabowo projects global-statesman ambitions but lacks clear strategic goals behind visits and deals.
- His diplomacy appears chaotic and riskily focused on visibility over substantive outcomes.
Hands-On Leadership, Questionable Sustainability
- Prabowo continues patterns from his defence tenure but centralises control across portfolios, limiting diplomatic professionalism.
- His hands-on approach yields deals but raises questions about sustainability and quality.
Russia Ties Are Symbolic, Not Dominant
- Indonesia's ties with Russia are historic and emotional but are smaller in scale than US ties.
- Russians evoke Sukarno-era imagery, yet US security relations remain stronger and broader.