Jakarta. International relations expert Hikmahanto Juwana recently said that the diplomacy of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo over the past decade had earned Indonesia’s outgoing leader global recognition.

Jokowi will retire this weekend after leading the country since 2014. Jokowi’s past international achievements include Indonesia’s 2023 ASEAN chairmanship and the country’s G20 presidency the previous year. When the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, Jokowi also tried to talk with the leaders of the warring countries -- Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy -- as the conflict had disrupted the global food supply. Jokowi has also brought up the Palestine issue in his diplomatic meetings even more following the escalation of the Gaza crisis. 

According to Hikmahanto, Indonesia was still a relatively new country on the global stage when it declared independence under its founding father Soekarno. Although Jokowi has not been as fiery on international forums, the 63-year-old politician has made world leaders and the international community want to know more about him and Indonesia. 

“Over the past decade of Jokowi’s leadership, many global leaders know who Indonesia’s president is. This includes how he [Jokowi] got elected by the people and what he did for Indonesia. Many leaders even wished to meet Jokowi,” Hikmahanto said in Jakarta on Monday, alluding to the countless in-person bilateral talks that Jokowi had over the past decade. 

Hikmahanto said that the global recognition benefitted Indonesia. The analyst added that while Jokowi mainly focused on the home affairs during his first term, this does not mean that he neglected what was taking place overseas. Hikmahanto said: “He [Jokowi] will pay attention to foreign affairs when needed and if the global situation demands it.”

Jokowi’s second term saw the Covid-19 pandemic, Ukraine war, and the escalating conflicts. 

“The situation demands his [Jokowi’s] interventions. That is why we saw him very engaged when navigating issues related to Covid-19. We saw him speaking out how no country should be left behind as the world fought against the pandemic,” Hikmahanto said. 

"When the war in Gaza emerged and then many countries condemned Israel's actions, Jokowi also made various efforts to ensure peace. However, the most important thing is the humanitarian side. The humanitarian side for the victims from the Palestinian people," he added.

When Indonesia presided over the G20 in 2022, the forum came out with a document in which “deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by Russia against Ukraine”. Also in the same year, Jokowi brought the G7 Summit’s attention to the food crisis fuelled by the Russia-Ukraine war. He also flew on a peace mission to meet Zelenskyy in Kyiv and Putin in Moscow. Aside from sending logistics aid to Palestine, Indonesia continuously reaffirmed its support for Palestine. 

“When the Gaza war escalated, many countries condemned Israel’s aggression. Jokowi also made many efforts to make sure there was peace. But what is the most important is the humanitarian side, particularly for the Palestinian victims and people,” Hikmahanto said.