Emphasize the Relevance of Multilateralism, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs: We Remain in the System While Encouraging Change

JAKARTA - Indonesia continues to see the importance and believes in the relevance of multilateralism, so it chooses to remain in the system while encouraging change, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, Wednesday.

Speaking at the 2026 Annual Foreign Minister's Press Statement (PPTM) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, Wednesday (14/1), Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized that in a world that is increasingly multiplex, competitive, and unpredictable, multilateralism still has strategic relevance for Indonesia not as a normative goal, but as an instrument to expand national action space and strengthen resilience.

"In the midst of the strengthening of hard power logic and increasingly sharp competition, multilateralism gives space for countries like Indonesia to continue to determine their own direction, maintain national interests, and prevent survival from becoming a zero-sum game," said the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Furthermore, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Indonesia does not view multilateralism naively. When rules are often violated and decisions are late, questions about their relevance are legitimate. However, for Indonesia, the extreme choice between full dependence or total rejection of multilateralism is not the answer.

"Indonesia will not depend on national interests on multilateralism that does not work. But Indonesia will not hand over its future to a world without rules. We will remain within the system, while encouraging change from within," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In this context, Indonesia's active involvement in various multilateral arenas is part of a network-based resilience strategy, not a political choice of camp. Indonesia is consistently present in various platforms - ranging from the UN, G20, BRICS, APEC, OIC, to technical forums - to bridge interests, shape rules, and expand national strategic space.

This approach is reflected in concrete achievements throughout 2025, in which Indonesia managed to win all 10 important nominations in various international organizations.

"This is not just about numbers, but about influence, impact, and trust in Indonesia's role as a constructive and credible actor," said Foreign Minister Sugiono.

Furthermore, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs said that in 2026, Indonesia holds a number of strategic leadership roles, including as a member of the UN Board of Auditors for the period 2026-2032 through the Indonesian Supreme Audit Agency, as well as as President of the UN Human Rights Council in 2026.

In addition, Indonesia ensures that the interests of island countries are taken into account in the International Maritime Organization's shipping safety standards, as well as actively contributing to the drafting of rules on postal connectivity in the Universal Postal Union, which directly impacts MSMEs and e-commerce.

"Rule-setting is proof that multilateralism can work and has a direct impact on our lives," said the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs explained that the main challenge of the UN today is not on its basic values, but on its architecture and effectiveness. Therefore, Indonesia is actively pushing for the UN reform agenda in the 80-year momentum of the UN through various UN80 initiatives, with a focus on a more responsive, efficient and results-oriented UN.

On the same basis, Indonesia again nominated itself as a Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council 2029-2030, not for prestige, but to ensure that the multilateral system continues to function amid increasing pressure.

In a multiplex world, Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized that national resilience is not built through isolation, but through networking.

Therefore, Indonesia's involvement in BRICS and the process towards the OECD do not negate each other, but reflect a diversification strategy that is consistent with a free and active foreign policy: free to determine the path, and actively utilize every available space for cooperation.

The same approach underlies Indonesia's focus on the D-8 Chairmanship for the period 2026-2027, with a more delivery-oriented agenda, focusing on strengthening intra-D-8 trade, food and energy security, as well as blue economic cooperation, science, and technology.

"The focus is clear: jobs, growth, and resilience," he said, adding that in the midst of a transactional world, the D-8 gives space for the Global South to collaborate and build resilience together.