[Insight & Opinion] Why Indonesia's Diplomatic Power Is Gaining Attention

[Asia Economy] The world's fault lines are becoming clearer. The United States, emphasizing value-based alliances, is reorganizing its allies, while countries including China are intensifying efforts to counter the U.S. Amid this confrontation, unexpected cooperation is also emerging. Saudi Arabia and Russia, once representative adversaries, are pursuing common interests through the oil alliance OPEC+ (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member countries and non-OPEC consultative group). As rivalry among hegemonic powers intensifies, countries seeking independent power consolidation are also emerging. India, the world's most populous country, along with T?rkiye, which is actively leveraging its geopolitical position, are prime examples. Indonesia, located close to us, has recently begun to actively pursue similar moves.

The recently concluded G20 summit did not attract much domestic attention. The core issue of this meeting was what stance to take regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. Considering the composition, which included many countries maintaining close ties with Russia, the likelihood of adopting a joint statement criticizing Russia was low. However, the summit ultimately succeeded in adopting a joint statement condemning the invasion of Ukraine, drawing renewed attention to Indonesia's diplomatic prowess. India, the next G20 host country, also demonstrated its independent diplomatic line and capabilities by concentrating considerable diplomatic efforts to persuade member countries. They reached a final agreement by appealing to the difficulties faced by developing countries due to the war and by persuading the need to criticize the root causes, starting with the universally relatable issue of food security. Russia found itself diplomatically cornered, and China did not oppose this trend. It was a moment when the diplomatic power of middle powers shone.

Diplomacy is fundamentally thought to be based on national power, but there are aspects that cannot be resolved by power alone. If Indonesia and India had not stepped forward in this meeting and the U.S. and European countries had tried to take the lead, the joint statement might not have been adopted. Indonesia and India demonstrated how important it is not to merely watch the great powers in a conflict but to create a logic acceptable to all, shape the overall structure and framework, and persuade others. However, we are still confined within the framework of the four-power diplomacy formed in the early 2000s, represented by the U.S., China, Japan, and Russia, as well as the spatial scope of the Korean Peninsula. The world considers South Korea a developed country, expects a role from it, and is ready to listen to our positions and judgments on international issues, but we are failing to seize the opportunities given to us.

As the confrontation between the U.S. and China continues, we tend to view diplomacy as a balancing act or a matter of choice. However, unlike in the past, South Korea has become a developed country and possesses the capability to create an independent space through its economic power and soft power. The problem is that we are not utilizing this. We need to secure space by raising alternatives and issues based on our perspective rather than choosing between two options, and within that space, build relationships with many countries rather than a few great powers. Yet, we still only look toward North Korea, China, and the U.S. We must recognize that the issues of the Korean Peninsula cannot be resolved by focusing solely on the peninsula. We must not forget that change is not something given by others but a process we achieve ourselves.

Choi Jun-young, Senior Advisor, Yulchon LLC

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.