The nation will expand its existing defence partnerships and step up its handling of strategic issues impacting its sovereignty, including maritime security and the safety of sea passage and fisheries, the Indonesian foreign minister said.
Sugiono, who uses only one name, said yesterday that Indonesia would continue to advocate for the completion of a code of conduct between the South-East Asian bloc Asean and China on the South China Sea and prioritise Asean’s centrality.
“In the geostrategic sense, Indonesia is close to a source of regional conflict, the South China Sea.
“Indonesia’s position remains prioritising conflict resolution that is peaceful,” Sugiono said, adding Indonesia would keep pushing for constructive dialogue on a code of conduct.
Regional commitments to draft a code were first made in 2002 but talks towards its creation only started in 2017 and progress has been limited, with years spent discussing the framework for negotiations and numerous agreements signed to expedite the process.
In a wide-ranging speech setting out Indonesia’s foreign policy that was attended by the diplomatic community, Sugiono also said Indonesia would prioritise completion of talks on free trade agreements and expand its international trade, including with non-traditional partners in Africa and the Pacific.
He said Indonesia’s joining of the BRICS grouping – which includes Russia, China, Brazil, India, Iran, Egypt and South Africa – was not a deviation from Indonesia’s international position, but an underlining of its free and active foreign policy.
The foreign minister also said Indonesia would never abandon its support for the Palestinian cause, calling for a ceasefire and accountability for Israel over its role in the Gaza conflict. — Reuters
