Indonesia’s role toward the Pacific Region: a case study of foreign policy under the president Joko Widodo administration

This study evaluated how the ‘Free and Active’ Principle determined Indonesia’s role in the Pacific during President Joko Widodo’s administration (2014-2024), aligned with the implementation of the Global Maritime Fulcrum and Look East Foreign Policy. Adhering to the principle of ‘Free and Active’, Indonesia engages ‘actively and independently’ in bilateral and multilateral cooperation in responding to regional dynamics without aligning with any power bloc. Through various initiatives, Indonesia is emerging as a ‘regional leader’, actively promoting stability and cooperation in the Pacific. Indonesia also plays an important role as a ‘developer’, contributing to economic development, infrastructure, and humanitarian assistance in Pacific countries. Remaining ‘independent’ in its foreign policy efforts, Indonesia pursues its national interests while strengthening cooperative relations with Pacific countries. In addition, as a ‘regional subsystem collaborator’, Indonesia works with Pacific countries to build a sustainable framework, leveraging its flexibility and diplomacy. These roles have resulted in notable achievements, such as the absence of human rights criticism on Papua during the United Nations General Assembly in 2023 and the strengthening of cooperative relations with Pacific countries. This study concludes that the consistent application of the principle of ‘Free and Active’ in Indonesia has been instrumental in realizing the goals of the Global Maritime Fulcrum and Look East Policy in the Pacific, enhancing the country’s image and influence in the region. The research proves that Indonesia’s soft power, combined with material strength, is critical to effectively addressing regional challenges and strengthening ties with Pacific countries.