Minister Retno Clarifies Meaning of 'Free' and 'Active' Indonesia

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Indonesia has always played an important peacekeeping role both regionally and internationally with the deployment of its 'Pasukan Garuda' as a gesture symbolizing its commitment for the gradual attainment of world peace and balanced power among nations.

The concept of ‘free’ and ‘active’ has been governing the nation’s foreign policies for quite a long time with the ‘active’ part being actively translated into peacekeeping missions all across the world.

“The amount of peacekeepers dispatched from Indonesia to areas in crisis is relatively big with recent data suggesting the fact that we have sent as many as 2.730 peacekeepers to 9 different countries,” Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno LP Marsudi shared to Liputan6.com during a special interview held.

Indonesia’s willingness to make generous contribution by actively supporting the undertakings of peace missions all across the globe may be seen as a paradoxical gesture towards the other concept of ‘free’.

This is because the nation for so long sought to exclude itself from the permanent membership of United Nations Security Council.

Surely such decision is not without any reason as Indonesia still has scores to address domestically and legitimate inclusion in the council would make global- wide issues a mandatory homework for Indonesia to be involved in and to sort out.

Minister Retno views Indonesia’s desire for the prolongation of its non- membership in UN Security Council clearly portrays its commitment to the concept of ‘free’. Moreover, Indonesia’s continuous effort to lobby for support from other countries defines its determination to remain ‘active’ especially in gaining popular support for consistent position for the period between 2019- 2020.

According to her, Indonesia ought to set itself ‘free’ and react only to matters that may have an impact to the national interest or to the process of its pursuance.

Get to know more about Indonesia’s first female Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and her foreign policy goals for the remaining 4 years Ministerial period by watching the video below: