Part 1 of 2: Revisiting our foreign policy

Part 1 of 2: Revisiting our foreign policy

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Jakarta

Some 57 years ago, in 1948, Vice-President Mohammad Hatta made
a speech titled Mendayung di antara dua karang or rowing between
two reefs. The reefs that Vice President Hatta referred to in his
historic speech were, the growing antagonism between two opposing
Eastern Communist and Western Capitalist Blocks.

Vice-President Hatta argued strongly that, Indonesia must
avoid choosing sides between the two blocks. Vice President Hatta
was not advocating a policy of neutrality, but he passionately
reasoned, that Indonesia must strive to be a "subject, not an
object" in international affairs, where we determine our own
path.

This thinking was then coined as "independent and active
foreign policy", and it became one of Hatta's most important
legacies.

What I find striking, is that in the past five decades or so,
this basic policy has shown a remarkable degree of resilience and
adaptability.

The questions have to be asked: What are the elements of an
independent and active foreign policy? And what does it mean to
be independent and active today, 57 years after Muhammad Hatta
made his famous speech?

We need to ask these questions, because the world we live in
today is radically different, than the one faced by our
forefathers.

In fact, whereas Vice-President Hatta in 1948 used the
metaphor "rowing between two reefs", today, as we have safely
passed the two reefs, I would use the metaphor "navigating a
turbulent ocean" to describe the challenge faced by Indonesia's
foreign policy.

My purpose is, to go deeper into the concept of independent
and active foreign policy, which has served us so well since the
beginning of our Republic, and to sketch how it can better serve
Indonesia's national interests in the coming years.

It is not an attempt to rewrite the book, but simply to add
more pages to it.

So what are the conceptual properties of independent and
active foreign policy?

It entails "independence of judgment" and "freedom of action".
But I would also add the necessity of a constructive approach in
the conduct of foreign policy.

Being independent-minded and having freedom of action, is
indeed critical. But there is no use having an independent mind
and freedom of action, if we end-up making the wrong turns or
become marginalized. And there is no sense for us to be
different, just for the sake of being different, or to be active
just for its own sake. Our independence and activism must
therefore, be combined with a constructive mindset, so that we
can attain our national objectives.

A constructive approach may mean many things. It denotes an
ability to turn adversary into friend, and to turn friend into
partner. It means having the diplomatic, intellectual and
emotional capacity, to respond to complex foreign policy issues.

It also means putting to rest a siege mentality, wild
conspiracy theories, excessive suspicion, an overly defensive
attitude, or the fear that the world is out to get us.

In short, constructivism helps us to use our independence and
activism to be a peace-maker, confidence-builder, problem-solver,
bridge-builder.

This way, our independent and active policy becomes relevant
-- relevant to our national interests, relevant to our people,
relevant to the international community.

Secondly, independent and active means that we will NOT enter
into any military alliances. This also means that we will
continue our policy of not allowing any foreign military bases on
Indonesian territory. Indonesia does not have a country which we
consider a threat or an enemy.

It is also imperative for Indonesia to develop a strategic
posture, that is non-threatening to its neighbors and to the
region.

Third, an independent and active foreign policy is all about
connectivity.

Our ability to connect with the wider world is critical, to
the performance of our independent and active foreign policy.
Our connectivity determines our influence and capacity, to shape
the international order.

Connectivity is a source of diplomatic empowerment.
Connectivity serves our independent and active policy in many
ways.

It compels Indonesia to have an active and healthy engagement
with its neighbors, with the major powers and emerging powers,
with the regions of the world, and with international
institutions and a whole range of non-state actors.

It calls on us, to find ways to plug into the globalized
world. It obliges us, to closely tune-in to regional and
international issues which affect us. And it necessitates us, to
link-up with an array of international actors, including business
actors, NGOs and individuals.

It must be remembered, however, that in the very complex world
of today, it is impossible to be connected to everything, and to
be engaged with every international issue. We must develop the
right kind and the right degree of connectivity, one that is
consistent with our national objectives, and with our resources.

Fourth, "independent and active" should project Indonesia's
international identity.

We Indonesians always talk proudly about our national
identity, but do not forget that there is also such a thing as
"international identity" how we project ourselves to the outside
world, and how we are perceived by the international community.

International identity defines a country's role, place and
standing in the world community. We should be a country that has
a solid national identity, but also a strong international
identity. Our international identity must be rooted in a strong
sense of who we are. We cannot be all things to all people. We
must know who we are and what we believe in, and project them in
our foreign policy.

The bottom line is this. We are a proud nation who cherish our
independence and national unity. We are the fourth most populous
nation in the world. We are home to the world's largest Muslim
population. We are the world's third largest democracy. We are
also a country where democracy, Islam and modernity go hand-in-
hand. We will stay our course with ASEAN as the cornerstone of
our foreign policy. And our heart is always with the developing
world, to which we belong.

These are the things that define who we are, and what we do in
community of nations.

Fifth, independent and active foreign policy should reflect
our true brand of nationalism. Nationalism is of course on the
rise in Indonesia, a trend that we also see in many other
countries. But our nationalism is not an angry or arrogant one.
We do not subscribe to narrow nationalism, ultra nationalism, or
self-absorbed nationalism. We do not overestimate ourselves, and
nor do we underestimate others. We treat big, medium and small-
sized powers with equal respect.

The article is based on President Susilo's written speech for
the Indonesian Council on World Affairs (ICWA) in Jakarta on May
19.