NO one could have expected a full-scale war to break out in Ukraine. The war is happening right as simultaneously, Indonesia is at the helm of the Group of 20. It is Indonesia’s destiny to navigate the complex situation as it holds presidency of the world’s most prestigious mechanism on economics and finance.

Historically, Indonesia has been successful in hosting and chairing many prestigious international meetings, such as the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung, West Java; the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bogor, West Java; Bali’s climate conference; and numerous Asean’s landmark agreements contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity, including the launch of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trade agreement, when chairing Asean in 2011.

These events highlight Indonesia’s leadership and consistency in implementing its foreign policy, which aims to contribute to world peace, security, friendship and partnership.

The G20 was established as the world’s primary inclusive global economic and financial platform bringing together all parties from developed and new emerging economies with their diverse views to deliberate and adopt global policy measures.

As a trillion-dollar economy and the world’s 16th largest, and as a country that emerged from the devastating 1998 financial crisis with the prestigious status as the world’s third largest democracy, Indonesia’s membership comes with responsibilities. Reeling from the Asian financial crisis, Indonesia recovered stronger and envisions becoming the world’s seventh largest economy by 2030 while promoting democracy, human rights, sustainable development and multilateralism.

The theme of Indonesia’s G20 presidency, “Recover together, recover stronger”, represents the country’s responsibility to embrace all in its bid to bounce back from the pandemic.

It adopts three concrete, deliverable priorities, which are not only in Indonesia’s interests, but are common global priorities: health, energy transition and digital transformation.

The theme clearly represents the leadership’s aim of ensuring the G20’s relevance for everyone - north and south, rich and poor. The first priority underscores the fact that the pandemic has taught us all crucial lessons in how unprepared we are - whether developing or developed countries - and how divisive the narratives when unity is urgently needed.

The pandemic and geopolitical tension formed a perfect storm when distrust grew and unity was absent. Divisive rhetoric and exchanges of accusations were the dominant narratives, instead of collaboration.

Galvanising global solidarity, therefore, is the consistent narrative of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who insists that “no one should be left behind” on vaccination and access to medications.

As an emerging economy and non-producing country of vaccines, Indonesia has managed to secure and vaccinate 70% of its population in slightly over a year. Despite progress, Indonesia continues forging global solidarity to achieve the World Health Organisation’s vaccination target of 70% of the global population this year.

As the acting G20 president, Jokowi will make sure the pandemic is addressed, the economy recovers and the world is well prepared for future pandemics.

Second, not long ago, world leaders put pressure on emerging economies like Indonesia to be more ambitious in their emission reduction targets to reach net zero by 2050.

Despite lack of implementation on their part, developed countries again reaffirmed the Paris Commitment to US$100bil financing annually.

Many are now worried that financing the devastating geopolitical conflict will replace financing to address the climate crisis.

We should not allow this to happen and should stick to our collective efforts to address the climate crisis for all, including for our future generations.

Therefore, energy transition is among Indonesia’s G20 priorities, despite its being a costly undertaking, especially for Indonesia, a country blessed with coal and fossil fuel resources. Indonesia’s leading by example announced by Jokowi at Glasgow Climate Summit was solid evidence of Indonesia’s determination to walk the talk.

To illustrate how costly it is, US$3.8bil is needed merely to compensate Indonesia’s transition of 5.4 gigawatts of coal power.

Indonesia understands this yet remains committed to move forward. Indonesia’s success in significantly slashing the deforestation rate in the past years has improved its confidence to launch the forest and other land uses (FOLU) net sink by 2030. Ambitious peatland and mangrove restoration has progressed significantly and will place Indonesia as a potential carbon sequestration market.

The third priority is digital transformation. We remember when digitalisation disrupted many things, bringing anxiety and distress. But thanks to Indonesia’s democratic environment and vibrant young demography, digital transformation is now vast and has produced a number of unicorns and decacorns.

Democracy and freedom are conducive preconditions for creativity and innovation to flourish. We also understand the challenges of digitalisation and its potential threat to peace and security, as in the cases of hoaxes, disinformation and cybercrimes. Therefore, G20 deliberation on this topic should ensure digital transformation is relevant and beneficial to all.

Indonesia’s firm and consistent approach - “Recover together, recover stronger” - is a testament to its pledge to keep the G20 credible and relevant for all. It should remain working in a spirit of multilateralism to promote dialogue and inclusiveness. 

The geopolitical conflict is devastating, therefore a conducive environment should be created to put the fight to an end. Putting significant pressure on Indonesia is simply unfair when it is trying to salvage the G20 and its relevance to all, particularly developing countries.

Many understand this stance, but some fail to do so. Pressuring, and even bullying Indonesia for its stance is misrepresentation. Indonesia does not have the prerogative to invite or disinvite G20 members.

It should be a collective decision of all members. But Indonesia has the right to invite guests, and therefore Jokowi has invited the president of Ukraine.

The success of the G20 summit is certainly desirable, not only for Indonesia, but for the whole international community, particularly developing countries.

Jokowi and Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi have repeatedly called for an immediate stop to the war in Ukraine and respect for territorial integrity.

Negotiation and diplomacy should be given their primacy. Only history will tell whether Indonesia has made the right decision to choose dialogue over conflict, partnership over hostility and diplomacy over war mongering.

 - ANN