President Yoon Seok-yeol has shifted South Korea’s position from strategic ambiguity to strategic clarity which focuses on solidifying Seoul’s relations with the United States. Obviously, this impacts its relations with China and North Korea.
Diplomacy
Some say Sunnis and Shiites cannot sit next to each other. Indonesia and Iran prove them wrong.
After consistently sending strong signals over the years, the Quad’s wish to engage ASEAN should be considered this year under Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship.
The UAE’s airline giants Etihad and Emirates have shown interest to keep Garuda Indonesia in the air. Time will tell if their interest and money are enough to do so.
The Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train megaproject has incurred cost overrun after multi-year delays and would multiply the financial burden of the Indonesian government and its people.
The “brotherhood” between Indonesia’s President Jokowi and Prince Mohammad bin Zayed of UAE has materialized in closer bilateral relations and symbolic appreciation of each other.
The popular Chinese sugary beverage chain Mixue took Indonesia by (winter) storm thanks to its solid business model and understanding of the Indonesian market. While demonstrating China’s soft power, its culinary diplomacy might clash with the government’s campaign.
Jakarta recently signed its first comprehensive trade agreement with a Gulf country, the United Arab Emirates. A closer economic ties, driven by diplomatic relationship and close friendship of the leaders, can be expected in the next few years.
Due to the ongoing global geopolitical flux, there is an imperative for the Marcos Jr. administration to consider the Middle East and North African (MENA) region as an alternative source of investment, foreign tourists and market for Philippine products.
Rumors of a normalization in Indonesia-Israel ties have emerged multiple times in the past decades but no substantial forward step has ever been made, owing to Indonesia’s unbending commitment to Palestine’s independence and domestic political pressure.