Indonesia chooses resilience diplomacy in a world that is increasingly harsh and unpredictable

JAKARTA - The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Sugiono, emphasized that Indonesian diplomacy must be built on preparedness, the ability to withstand pressure, and adaptation in the midst of an increasingly harsh, competitive, and unpredictable world.

"Indonesia needs to strengthen Resilience Diplomacy as a fundamental pillar of Indonesian Foreign Policy which starts from the needs of the people and national interests," said Foreign Minister Sugiono in the 2026 Annual Foreign Minister's Press Statement (PPTM) at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta (14/1).

Speaking in front of hundreds of invited guests, including former Indonesian Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab and Retno Marsudi, former Deputy Foreign Ministers to ambassadors of friendly countries, Foreign Minister Sugiono explained that Resilience Diplomacy is a diplomacy that is adaptive to managing risks, maintaining stability, and strengthening national bargaining power, so that Indonesia is not just survive, but able to determine the direction in the midst of global pressure.

"Because in an uncertain world, only strong countries on the inside will have bargaining power on the outside," he said.

He further explained that Indonesian Resilience Diplomacy is built on four main pillars, namely security resilience to maintain sovereignty; economic resilience to support resilience and bargaining power; energy resilience to ensure sustainability; and food security as the foundation of national stability.

In the framework of sovereignty and security, Indonesia continues to strengthen territorial certainty through the settlement of land and maritime borders.

Throughout 2025, Indonesia recorded progress in completing the border with Malaysia, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, as well as agreeing on 7 defense cooperation and 16 law enforcement agreements. Indonesia also formed a strategic partnership with Russia and Thailand, as well as a comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam.

Furthermore, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the four two plus two dialogues between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense of Indonesia with China, Japan, Australia and Turkey further confirmed the synergy between foreign and defense policies as instruments for prevention, stabilization and strategic risk management.

In the economic field, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that economic resilience is the main prerequisite for national resilience through independence, diversification of partners, and strengthening of cooperation architecture.

"In a turbulent world, economic resilience is both resilience and bargaining power," said Foreign Minister Sugiono.

In 2025, Indonesia agreed to three economic cooperation agreements with Canada, Peru, and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and encouraged the completion of negotiations, including the Indonesia-EU CEPA, and the PTA with Mauritius, said the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Indonesia will also ensure the implementation of the upgrade of the ASEAN-China FTA 3.0 and the update of the Indonesia-Japan EPA.

To strengthen the institution of economic diplomacy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia initiated the establishment of the Directorate General of Economic Relations and Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs explained that diplomacy is also an instrument of national development in supporting food and energy security. To support the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program, Indonesia has mobilized cooperation with the School Meals Coalition, related international bodies and partner countries.

In the energy sector, diplomacy is directed to support energy self-sufficiency and a just and affordable transition, as well as the target of building the first nuclear power plant in 2032 as a long-term investment for the nation's resilience and independence.

Not to forget, the protection of Indonesian citizens remains the main pillar of diplomacy. Throughout 2025, Indonesia repatriated 27,768 Indonesian citizens from various crisis situations, ranging from armed conflicts to transnational crimes such as online scams and online gambling.

"For Indonesian citizens abroad, the most important thing is to feel the presence and protection of the state," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"In the future, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to strengthen partnerships, preparedness of representatives, early warning systems, and the digitization of services," he said.

At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prioritizes the empowerment of the diaspora as a subject of development and national resilience assets through the establishment of a special working unit, as well as cross-ministerial and agency cooperation in encouraging initiatives such as the Diaspora Master Number and the development of One Diaspora Data.

In the midst of a world that is moving faster and faster, the Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the source of vulnerability does not only come from open conflicts.

Resilience requires the ability to read changes, the ability to adapt quickly, and the ability to shape space before risks turn into crises.

One of the arenas that increasingly determine national resilience is new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace, and dual-use technologies.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that technology such as artificial intelligence must remain a servant of humanity. For Indonesia, the issue of technology is not only a technical issue, but a strategic issue.

Therefore, he continued, diplomats must be present as guardians of national interests in this new global space and ensure that Indonesia participates in determining the rules of the game.

"All of these efforts are based on one need, namely a more prepared, more resilient, and more professional diplomatic capacity, so that Indonesia not only follows changes, but also helps shape them," said the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs.