Expert views energy diplomacy as vital instrument in safeguarding national resilience
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Arcandra Tahar, a member of the Board of Experts of Prasasti and an energy expert, assesses that energy diplomacy serves as a vital instrument in safeguarding national resilience, as seen amid the geopolitical turmoil in the Arabian Gulf region.
“Energy diplomacy acts as a gateway to a country’s energy security. Through intergovernmental or government-to-government diplomacy, Indonesia can build high-level political alliances that enable direct access to strategic energy assets in various countries,” Arcandra stated in his remarks received in Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to him, many energy resources, particularly in the Middle East region, often require support from inter-state relations to be accessed optimally.
In such situations, inter-state relations become a key factor in opening up cooperation opportunities while providing political certainty for overseas energy investments.
Arcandra added that this strategy must be implemented cautiously amid the increasingly complex global geopolitical dynamics. Indonesia needs to leverage its free and active foreign policy principles to maintain balanced relations amid global rivalries and international sanctions dynamics.
“With a position unbound to any specific power bloc, Indonesia has considerable diplomatic leeway. If utilised appropriately, inter-state political relations can be translated into long-term production cooperation that strengthens national energy supply security,” he said.
Tensions in the Gulf region also once again highlight the importance of the Strait of Hormuz as a global energy distribution route.
This strait channels around 20 percent of the world’s oil trade, making it one of the most strategic energy chokepoints in the world.
Security disruptions in the region over the past few weeks have heightened uncertainty regarding global energy supply stability and triggered surges in risks within the global oil trade.
Prasasti appreciates the government’s steps in responding to this situation while emphasising the importance of information openness to the public, particularly regarding the impacts of global geopolitical dynamics and the adjustment measures taken by the government.
Clear communication is deemed essential so that the public can understand the evolving situation and have realistic expectations about future economic conditions.