Geopolitics
Explore the global forces shaking the world and their ripple effects on Indonesia’s destiny.
Malaysia apologizes after mistakenly naming Jokowi as Indonesia’s president
Malaysia has formally apologized to Indonesia following an embarrassing on-air mistake in which the country’s state broadcaster Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) referred to President Prabowo Subianto as Joko Widodo during its live coverage of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Timor Leste officially becomes ASEAN’s 11th member after 14-year wait
Timor-Leste has officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), becoming the regional bloc’s 11th member after waiting nearly 14 years for admission.
Brazil seeks full ASEAN membership, Lula highlights shared vision with Southeast Asia
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced on Friday, October 24, 2025 that Brazil is seeking full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), underscoring his country’s commitment to strengthening political, economic, and cross-regional cooperation with Southeast Asia.
Prabowo proposes bilateral trade pact with South Africa amid global tariff tensions
President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 urged his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa to explore a bilateral trade agreement between the two BRICS partners, as Indonesia seeks to reduce its trade deficit amid growing global tariff uncertainties.
IOC suspends Indonesia from hosting international sports after visa ban on Israeli athletes
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 called on all international sports federations to refrain from organizing events in Indonesia after the country refused to issue visas to Israeli athletes competing in the ongoing 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta.
Prabowo welcomes Brazilian, South African leaders in back-to-back State visits
President Prabowo Subianto hosted two state visits this week, welcoming Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa to the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, a diplomatic showcase underscoring Indonesia’s strengthened engagement with fellow Global Southnations.
Indonesia prepares peacekeeping troops as Gaza truce talks enter security phase
Amid ceasefire efforts between Hamas and Israel, discussions on a long-term peace framework have entered a crucial phase − the potential deployment of international peacekeeping forces to stabilize Gaza.
Indonesia moves closer to joining BRICS’ new development bank
Indonesia has allocated funds to purchase shares in the BRICS-backed New Development Bank (NDB), marking another step in Jakarta’s growing engagement with the China-led bloc of emerging economies.
Trump praises Prabowo at Gaza peace summit, candid exchange draws global attention
The 2025 Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit on Gaza not only marked a historic step toward ending hostilities in Palestine, but also captured a moment that went viral: the thumbs-up pose between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Prabowo attends Peace Summit in Egypt, denies rumors of Israel visit
President Prabowo Subianto arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday morning, October 13, 2025, to attend the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit, amid circulating reports from Israeli media alleging that he would make a historic visit to Israel after the meeting.
Indonesia welcomes Gaza ceasefire, calls for renewed push toward two-state solution
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday, October 10, 2025, welcoming the announcement of a phase-one ceasefire in Gaza, hailing it as a crucial step toward a permanent end to hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
Japan’s evolving defense strategy deepens ties with ASEAN
Japan’s defense cooperation strategy with Southeast Asian nations has undergone a significant transformation since the mid-2010s, shifting beyond the boundaries of traditional military partnerships. This evolution reflects Tokyo’s broader ambition to build stronger and more comprehensive defense ties across the region.