Strategic hedging in Indonesia’s defense diplomacy |
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Authors: | Iis Gindarsah |
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Institution: | Researcher, Department of Politics and International Relations, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta, Indonesia |
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Abstract: | With the rapid pace of regional arms modernization and unresolved territorial disputes, Indonesia is increasingly susceptible to the impact of emerging great power rivalry in Asia-Pacific. Rather than pursuing a robust military build-up, Indonesian policy-makers assert that diplomacy is the country’s first line of defense. This article argues that defense diplomacy serves two agenda of Indonesia’s hedging strategy – strategic engagement and military modernization. This way, Indonesian defense and security officials seek to moderate the impact of geopolitical changes while maintaining the country’s defensive ability against regional uncertainties. |
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Keywords: | Hedging defense diplomacy strategic engagement military modernization Indonesia |
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