Adidaya Institute survey reveals Palestine's independence as Indonesia's most strategic issue

Jakarta — Adidaya Institute believes that the escalation of the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance marks a significant shift in Middle East geopolitical dynamics. The situation not only affects regional stability but could also trigger a reconfiguration of the global power order, impacting energy stability, international trade routes, and the balance of a developing multipolar system.

Adidaya Institute economist Bramastyo B Prastowo said the dynamics carry strategic implications for Indonesia that extend beyond the Middle East. ‘For Indonesia, these dynamics have strategic implications that go well beyond the Middle East,’ Bramastyo B Prastowo said in a statement on Saturday, 7 March.

Referring to Adidaya Institute’s survey of 72 national experts, the issue of an Independent Palestine carries the highest strategic weight, around 23 per cent. The finding places Palestine as a source of moral and political legitimacy for the government in determining its position amid escalating global conflict.

Bramastyo stated the results position Palestine’s independence as the main anchor in the government’s strategic policy framework. He said Palestine is not only a humanitarian solidarity issue but also a source of normative legitimacy that influences Indonesia’s credibility in the international system.

Adidaya Institute also views Indonesia as having the potential to play the role of a swing state in global diplomacy. With a history of anti-colonialism, a tradition of Bebas Aktif foreign policy, and relatively balanced relations with various world blocs, Indonesia is seen as having space to act as a balancer in the architecture of international peace.

In this context, one issue that provokes controversy is Indonesia’s involvement in the Board of Peace (BoP) diplomacy configuration. Some circles question the strategic benefits BoP brings to Indonesia’s national interests.

Bramastyo said the government’s decision to remain in BoP should be understood as a strategic step rather than a short-term political choice. He argued that participation aligns with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution, which asserts Indonesia’s active role in creating global order.

‘However, Adidaya Institute also notes that the escalation of Israeli and US attacks on Iran could undermine international confidence in the BoP architecture’s effectiveness in building peace and reconstructing Palestine,’ Bramastyo said.

Therefore, Adidaya Institute believes the government should calibrate geopolitics quickly in relation to every strategic configuration that affects national interests. This evaluation is important to ensure Indonesia’s position remains aligned with diplomatic and economic interests.

‘The government does not need to rush to exit BoP,’ Bramastyo said. In the face of an increasingly unsettled global geopolitical environment, a calm and strategic stance is required so that Indonesia’s presence in BoP can be leveraged to advance humanitarian aims and world peace.