Defence minister and president-elect of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto touched down in Cambodia on Sept 6. - Foreign ministry
PHNOM PENH: Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto arrived in Cambodia last Friday (Sept 6) with little fanfare and it was far from a casual stopover.
The veteran leader brought along his foreign policy strategy playbook aiming to redefine Indonesia’s image in Asean through diplomatic outreach.
As he travelled across South-East Asian capitals -- from visiting low key players like Brunei and Laos to influential nations Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia -- Prabowo, current Defence Minister, could well be peddling Jakarta’s foreign policy agenda to enhance regional diplomacy and cooperation.
Prabowo’s quick tours also demonstrates the inclusive philosophy that he inculcates by embracing diverse members of the bloc, despite their geo-political leanings or economic status - his approach to recalibrate trade, security and cultural exchanges within the Asean framework.
Speaking to Bernama from Jakarta, Research Professor at the Research Centre for Politics, National Research and Innovation Agency Prof Dr Dewi Fortuna Anwar, said the incoming president is promoting his brand of international relations to fortify Indonesia’s status in the region.
"He has been travelling a lot before his inauguration and sending strong signals about his foreign policy and this reflects the diverse countries he has visited. He is building good relations with Asean members before his inauguration.
"It is a broadening of foreign policy. Jokowi’s foreign policy has been quite narrow, namely economic diplomacy. With his background Prabowo will clearly have a special interest in geopolitics and geo-security.
"As Minister of Defence Prabowo has been active in enhancing defence diplomacy and security cooperation with wide-ranging partners. But Prabowo will also likely continue Jokowi's policy of attracting foreign investment, securing export markets to support Indonesian economic development,” she said.
Prabowo’s inauguration slated for October.
The Jakarta Post in its August opinion piece pointed out "a shift in foreign policy priorities” under Prabowo’s administration in contrast to President Joko Widodo’s policies aimed at promoting trade and investment.
"Prabowo is likely to incorporate more defence and security aspects into Indonesian foreign policy, not only as a continuation of his programmes as defense minister, but also because the current geopolitical landscape demands this.
"So we can expect to see greater alignment between the country’s foreign and defence policies, rather than maintaining their separate trajectories as at present,” said Jakarta Post.
Prabowo’s visit to Cambodia amplifies the prominent newspaper’s view.
Cambodia remains another key partner for Indonesia as both nations have a long diplomatic history as the latter played an active role in the kingdom’s independence struggle from French rule.
"Its a very important visit as it highlights Indonesia-Cambodia's healthy relations since we established diplomatic relations. Indonesia is important in terms of our diplomatic relations and it is playing a vital role in Asean and it is also a member of G20.
"Indonesia is also expanding its influence in the region and wants to play a more active role in regional affairs,” International Relations Institute of Cambodia Director General Dr Kin Phea told Bernama.
The Indonesian government provided military aid worth US$500,000 in the form of rifles, handguns, and ammunition to Cambodia a week before Prabowo’s arrival.
During the 65-year friendship bilateral ties grew - a billion dollar two-way trade with strong defence and security cooperation and more Indonesian businesses exploring Cambodia.
Both nations are now ramping up strategies to address transnational issues -cybercrime, human trafficking, terrorism, climate change, food security and energy scarcity and narcotic trafficking.
Cambodia is an old friend of Indonesia, says Dewi, dating back to the kingdom attending the historic Bandung Conference in 1957 and supporter of the Nonaligned Movement since the 1960s.
"Indonesia played a critical role in Cambodia’s peace process. It hosted a series of peace talks in Jakarta (among warring parties) to solve the conflict in Cambodia.
"The relations between Indonesia and Cambodia from historical times to modern times have been special. Both have a long history of friendship,” said Dewi.
Indonesia deployed troops in 1992 under the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia or Untac to assist the kingdom in peace-building after the civil war ended.
And, seven years later, Indonesia, one of Asean’s founding members, supported Cambodia’s entry into the regional 10-member trade bloc. - Bernama
