Getting Airlangga's Honorary Medal From Russia, Called Indonesia Important Amid Global Political Dynamics

JAKARTA. The Russian government provides an honorary medal to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy of the Republic of Indonesia Airlangga Hartarto for his initiative and role in encouraging, improving, and strengthening the cooperation of the two countries.

The medal was pinned by a senior Russian diplomat, Mikhail Yurievich Galuzin, who was once the Russian Ambassador to Indonesia (2012-2018), at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow, Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

In the ceremony to embed the honorary medal, Airlangga was accompanied by his wife, Yanti Airlangga, and a number of high-ranking Golkar Party officials such as Rizal Mallarangeng and Ahmad Doli Kurnia.

Airlangga received the honorary medal on the sidelines of a working visit to Russia which took place from June 10 to 12.

An observer of international relations from the State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Teguh Santosa, assessed that the honorary medal received by Airlangga was a sign and recognition of the important meaning of Indonesia in the midst of the growing political dynamics of the world.

"Coordinating Minister Airlangga is showing that Indonesia is not just an object of global interest, but a player who should be taken into account in today's world planning and in the future," said Teguh in a statement, Wednesday, June 12.

Teguh added that recently the gestures of senior Indonesian politicians, as shown by Elected President Prabowo Subianto who is also the General Chair of the Gerindra Party and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto who is also the General Chair of the Golkar Party, have shown Indonesia's reluctance to continue to be just a complement to the political and economic regulations of the world.

Teguh gave an example of Prabowo's firm attitude in an interview with Aljazeera recently which emphasized that Indonesia during its leadership would cooperate with all countries. Prabowo does not want Indonesia to be trapped by any party in the midst of a competition that is currently taking place between super power.

"We invited the US, Japan, Korea and Europe. The fact we met with you doesn't mean we can't be friends with China, India, Russia," he said.

Coordinating Minister Airlangga also showed firmness towards the European Union which seemed to hang Indonesia in the preparation of the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). In a statement in Berlin, Germany, early last May, Airlangga Hartarto demanded that the European Union give the same treatment to Indonesia and not hang Indonesia in negotiations.

We know how to negotiate, we understand the best practices. We even signed the Indo-Pacific economic framework. But when can I sign the I-EU CEPA? I think only God knows," he said without showing fear.

Teguh, who has written several books with global political themes, said that Prabowo and Airlangga's assertiveness in addition to being proud of also demanding the hard work of all parties in the country so that Indonesia can truly uphold its dignity and become one of the key players at the regional and global levels.

"If we can realize this spirit and maintain it, Indonesia with all its existing potential can truly become an alternative power as we have always wanted and fought for," said Teguh.