Vol. VI / No. 6 | September 2025

Authors:
Gibraltar Andibya Muhammad & Rozan Firdaus Permana,
Department Assistant, University of Indonesia

Summary
This commentary explores the adverse impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on local indigenous communities in Indonesia. The paper highlights how infrastructure projects under BRI have led to significant socio-cultural disruptions, including displacement of indigenous peoples and loss of traditional lands, which are critical to their cultural heritage and identity, mainly in North Maluku, Tapanuli, North Kalimantan, and Riau Islands (Rempang). Furthermore, it addresses environmental degradation resulting from large-scale construction activities such as deforestation, habitat destruction, and pollution, which threaten biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities. The study calls for a balanced approach that considers the rights and needs of indigenous populations while pursuing developmental projects.

Keywords: Belt and Road Inititative (BRI), indigenous communities, development, environment 

Vol. VI / No. 3 | March 2025

Authors:
Tora Pandito, BSc Graduate from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Brawijaya, and former Researcher at United Nations Association.

Summary
The global movement toward de-dollarization, primarily championed by BRICS countries, seeks to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar in trade and finance. Indonesia’s alignment with BRICS could significantly reshape its economic and geopolitical trajectory. With the U.S. dollar’s longstanding dominance granting the U.S. leverage in international finance, BRICS’ alternative currency initiatives aim to diversify global reserve currencies, mitigating the effects of U.S. monetary policy on emerging economies. Geopolitically, BRICS membership empowers Indonesia to advocate for equitable global reforms and champion the perspectives of the Global South. By balancing alliances with both Global South and Global North, Indonesia aims to enhance its autonomy, assert its international influence, and reinforce its commitment to a multipolar world order. This article assesses the potential economic and geopolitical autonomy for Indonesia in a shifting global landscape.

Keywords: BRICS, de-dollarization, U.S. dollar, Indonesia, international trade

Vol. VI / No. 2 | March 2025

Authors:
Rachmasari Nur Al-Husin, Associate researcher at Department of International Relations, Universitas Indonesia.

Summary
Indonesia’s aspiration to join BRICS, an economic bloc consisting of Global South countries, reflects its strategic ambition to expand its economic role. However, competition between China and India shapes the dynamics of the Global South. China’s economic diplomacy through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and India’s emphasis on cultural diplomacy and innovation add complexity to Indonesia’s position. Amid these dynamics, Indonesia faces a strategic decision: whether to align with one of the powers, maintain a balanced relationship with both, or remain neutral. This decision also comes during a national leadership transition, which could influence the direction of Indonesia’s foreign policy, particularly in navigating strategic competition within the Global South.

Keywords: Global South, BRICS, South-South Cooperation, Pragmatism, Economic Interests

Vol. VI / No. 1 | March 2025

Authors:
Ali Abdullah Wibisono, Associate Professor in International Relations Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Indonesia.

Summary
Although the AUKUS coalition is advertised by its member states as defense technology cooperation, it is perceived by China as a maritime alliance and a strategic challenge for it. A number of observers in the United States and Australia have also interpreted AUKUS as a policy of forming a timely collective defense as a deterrent against China. In other words, although AUKUS is not officially intended to target or contain a particular country, China and non-officials from AUKUS states frame the coalition as a containment strategy. On the other hand, AUKUS does not stand in a vacuum, but rather among countries that are not yet fully able to meet their national security needs independently and depend on one of the great powers to meet their needs. To what extent will closeness to one of the great powers invite punitive or rebuke actions from other great powers is a very relevant question if the great powers are the United States and China. Some countries in the Indo-Pacific region such as Australia and the Philippines have decided to no longer hedge against China and the US, because they perceive that the structure of the balance of power and competition between the US and China has resulted in their national interests being better met by balancing with the US against China. However, for some other countries, including Indonesia, choosing between one of the binary options is not a good idea because it is not seen as a choice that contributes to national security. This article argues that Indonesia’s response to AUKUS from 2021 to the present has changed from a cautious and sceptic position into a pragmatic one, projecting possibilities for cooperation with the minilateral mechanism. Such pragmatism has been based on the notion that US-China rivalry should be perceived not as a zero-sum game but a rather a dynamic from which Indonesia should garner positive gains.

Keywords:AUKUS, Indonesia, China, Strategic Independence, South China Sea