By Prashanth Parameswaran
President Jokowi refutes claims that the country is becoming inward-looking during his tenure.
Indonesia’s president defended his administration’s foreign policy record in a speech in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, denying that his country was inward-looking. He stressed that Indonesia would continue to balance realizing its national interests and fulfilling its international obligations.
A little over a year since Joko “Jokowi” Widodo took office following a historic election, some international observers continue to criticize his administration for being overly inward-looking and self-interested (See: “The Trouble With Indonesia’s Foreign Policy Under Jokowi”).
But, echoing the same message his foreign minister Retno Marsudi had delivered to Washington during her public address in September, Jokowi told an audience at the Brookings Institution, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, that Indonesia’s commitment to international engagement remained as strong as ever (See: “Indonesia Defends its Foreign Policy Record Under Jokowi”).
“Ladies and gentleman, please take another look at Indonesia,” Jokowi said. “We are not going away. We are not becoming inward-looking.”
“Our interest in regional and international engagement remains as strong as ever and will be stronger in the years to come. Our foreign policy will continue to reflect both our national interests and our international obligations,” he added.
Read the full story at The Diplomat