This year, Indonesia’s diplomacy faces challenges of the kind it has not seen in generations. Its Presidency of the G-20, now occurring in the year of the Russo-Ukraine war, has given rise to widely varying views among G-20 members about the circumstances under which they will attend and who else should attend. At the same time, the meeting is a crucial opportunity to address a host of global economic, climate, and technology issues, to which must now be added the war’s huge impact on world food supplies.
Beyond the G-20 this year, Indonesia will also have the opportunity to deftly position itself when it takes over the ASEAN chairmanship next year, against the backdrop of intensifying major power relations and the Indo-Pacific’s evolving strategic architecture.
There is no one better qualified than former Foreign Minister Dr. Marty Natalegawa to enlighten us on these issues. The format was a conversation between USINDO’s U.S. Co-Chair Ambassador Bob Blake and Dr. Natalegawa, followed by audience Q and A through Zoom.
Panelist Biography
Raden Mohammad Marty M. Natalegawa served as Foreign Minister of Indonesia (2009 – 2014). Before that he was Permanent Representative/Ambassador of Indonesia to the UN (2007-2009); and Ambassador to the UK and to Ireland (2005-2007).
He served in various capacities within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia between 1986 and 2014, including as Director General for ASEAN Cooperation, Director for International Organizations, Chief of Staff, and Spokesperson of the Ministry.
He has been cited as “one of the most respected foreign policy and international security thinkers of his generation, both within Indonesia, in South-east Asia, and in the broader Asia-Pacific region” by ANU Chancellor Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AC QC.
He was an early advocate of an ASEAN role in the Indo-Pacific through the concept of “dynamic equilibrium”. Throughout, including as Foreign Minister, he actively promoted the management and resolution of potential conflicts in the region.
Dr. Natalegawa initiated the East Asia Summit, the 2011 Bali Concord III on ASEAN Community in the global community of nations, and the 2011 “Bali Principles” which provide for peaceful settlement of disputes and the repudiation of use of force amongst the countries of the EAS.
He is the author of “Does ASEAN Matter? A view from Within” (ISEAS Publishing – 2018).
Presently, he is an Asia Society Policy Institute Distinguished Fellow. He is also a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Advisory Board on Mediation; the UNSG’s Advisory Board on Disarmament; and the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
He is also a member of various prestigious boards and advisory boards, including the Global Center for Pluralism, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Bank of Indonesia Institute. He is also Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Leaders Network (APLN) for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
Dr. Natalegawa was awarded several medals, including Satyalancana Wira Karya medal and the Bintang Mahaputra Adipradana medal. The medals are awarded to individuals for their service to the nation. In November 2012, he was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Dr. Marty Natalegawa, born in Bandung 1963, earned a D.Phil. from the Australian National University; an M.Phil. from University of Cambridge; and a BSc (Hons) from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), PhD from Australian National University, Australia 1993
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