THE CONTINUITY OF ASEAN CENTRALITY WITHIN INDONESIAN FOREIGN POLICY UNDER PRESIDENT JOKO WIDODO

Abstract

Indonesian foreign policy under President Joko ―Jokowi Widodo continues to propel the significance ASEAN Centrality through official statements from Jakarta and its corresponding diplomatic practices. Despite the premature skepticism that President Jokowi would turn away Indonesia from ASEAN-led mechanisms in achieving its national interest, Jokowi‘s first term as president illustrates how ASEAN remains to be a primary driving force behind Indonesia‘s implementation of key foreign policy objectives. This paper aims to explore practical instances where Indonesia utilizes its position as the largest ASEAN member state, both geographically and economically, to drive its agenda forward while simultaneously promotes the profile of ASEAN as an autonomous and cohesive regional organization. In order to demonstrate Indonesia‘s continuity of upholding ASEAN Centrality under President Jokowi, three main areas of Indonesia‘s foreign policy will be examined. The first area concerns Indonesia‘s close coordination with all ASEAN member states towards the recent and eventual adoption of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The second area involves President Jokowi‘s call for ASEAN to strengthen its economic resilience amidst the ongoing US-China tit-for-tat imposition of trade tariffs. The third area looks at Indonesia‘s adherence to ensure the safety of Rohingya ethnic group in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. After closer examination that accounts for the maintenance of ASEAN Centrality by Indonesia in those three areas, it becomes evident that ASEAN is an indispensable forum with tremendous significance to Indonesia‘s foreign relations.