Adinda Jasmine, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Sugiono has called for Indonesia's diplomacy to adapt to an increasingly uncertain and volatile global environment, urging a strategy rooted in preparedness, vigilance, and realism.
Speaking at the Annual Press Statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (PPTM) 2026 at the Foreign Ministry in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, January 14, Sugiono said such an approach was essential as the world becomes more fragile, competitive, and unpredictable.
"When rules that have been mutually agreed upon are violated without consequences, it is not just a single rule that collapses, but trust in the rules and the entire international order," Sugiono said.
He described the current global order as being in a precarious state, where the interests of certain countries increasingly override the principle of collective security.
International law, long regarded as a pillar of global stability, is being selectively applied to serve unilateral interests, he added.
Sugiono warned that global governance mechanisms designed to manage crises are failing to keep pace with rapidly shifting geopolitical realities.
This weakness, he said, is compounded by the retreat of responsibility by some major powers, a situation he likened to the period preceding the collapse of the League of Nations and the outbreak of World War II.
According to Sugiono, the world is entering a phase of intensified competition, shaped by complex economic interdependence and the growing influence of non-state actors.
At the same time, he noted, the return of a "might makes right" mentality and the open practice of double standards have further eroded trust among nations.
He characterized today's international landscape as a "multiplex" world order, where diverse interests, dominant players, and overlapping rules coexist, and where cooperation is increasingly transactional rather than principled.
"In such an ambiguous global environment, Indonesia must make clear choices," Sugiono said, stressing that strong national resilience and the ability to chart an independent course are critical to ensuring the country is not swept up in intensifying global rivalries.
Indonesia's long-standing "free and active" foreign policy remains the foundation of its diplomacy, in line with the constitutional mandate to protect the nation, defend national interests, and contribute to world peace.
However, Sugiono emphasized that this principle must be applied dynamically, not rigidly.
"In a world like this, countries without a strategy will be left behind," he said. "Indonesia must not fall into that category. We must see the world as it is: fiercely competitive and increasingly unpredictable, and respond accordingly."
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2080396/how-indonesia-plans-to-shape-its-diplomacy-in-202