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Indonesia balances powers with deliberate restraint

Source: thejakartapost.com

TL;DR

Indonesia pursues a deliberate balancing strategy amid rivalry between major powers like the US, China, and Russia.
It engages multiple powers simultaneously to expand strategic options, not just hedge passively.[[1]](https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2026/04/07/among-competing-powers-indonesia-charts-a-quiet-path.html)
This restraint preserves autonomy and non-alignment in a tense global order.[[1]](https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2026/04/07/among-competing-powers-indonesia-charts-a-quiet-path.html)

The story at a glance

An opinion piece argues that Indonesia's foreign policy under President Prabowo Subianto stands out for its restraint rather than alignment with any power. It engages the US (via trade deals and Board of Peace), China, Russia (BRICS), and others to maximize maneuverability. The piece is timely amid escalating US-Israel tensions with Iran and Indonesia's recent Japan visit. This reflects the "free and active" doctrine in a multipolar world.[[2]](https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2026/03/11/indonesia-still-free-and-active-prabowo-claims.html)[[3]](https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/cff/2026/03/04/prabowo-foreign-policy-china-russia-brics-board-of-peace-us)

Key points

Indonesia's posture emphasizes restraint over bold alignment, practicing active balancing with multiple major powers.[[1]](https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2026/04/07/among-competing-powers-indonesia-charts-a-quiet-path.html)
Engagements include US-led Board of Peace for Gaza (now paused amid Iran war), BRICS membership, and ties with China and Russia.[[3]](https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/cff/2026/03/04/prabowo-foreign-policy-china-russia-brics-board-of-peace-us)
Recent US tariff deal raised concerns but was framed as partnership, not bloc siding.[[4]](https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2026/03/02/indonesia-reaffirms-free-and-active-policy-amid-tariff-concerns.html)
Prabowo reaffirmed "free and active" policy despite Middle East war and global tensions.[[2]](https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2026/03/11/indonesia-still-free-and-active-prabowo-claims.html)
Approach draws domestic pushback, like opposition to Board of Peace troop plans.[[5]](https://www.thejakartapost.com/index.php/latest)

Details and context

Indonesia's "free and active" (bebas aktif) doctrine, rooted in its 1945 constitution, avoids alliances to prioritize national interests. Under Prabowo, it has grown more assertive: joining BRICS in 2025 for economic diversification, signing a US reciprocal trade agreement in February 2026, and exploring Russia ties despite Western sanctions.[[3]](https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/cff/2026/03/04/prabowo-foreign-policy-china-russia-brics-board-of-peace-us)[[6]](https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/what-brics-membership-means-for-indonesias-foreign-policy)

This balancing counters risks from US-China rivalry and Middle East fallout, like oil shocks. Critics see it as leader-driven rather than institutional, potentially straining ASEAN unity or drawing Indonesia into conflicts.[[7]](https://asialink.unimelb.edu.au/diplomacy/insights/third-way-indonesian-foreign-policy)

Recent Prabowo's Japan visit highlights economic-security ties with non-aligned partners, amid energy disruptions from the Iran conflict.[[8]](https://www.facebook.com/jakpost/posts/after-more-than-a-year-in-office-president-prabowo-subianto-made-his-maiden-offi/1404616898360788)

Key quotes

"This is not indecision. It is design." – Article's characterization of Indonesia's strategy.[[9]](https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2026/04/07/among-competing-powers-indonesia-charts-a-quiet-path.html?utm_medium=single_latest&utm_source=%28direct%29)

Why it matters

Indonesia's approach safeguards its strategic autonomy as a G20 middle power in a fragmenting order. It means diversified trade, defense, and energy options for businesses and investors, but risks domestic backlash or missteps in great-power games. Watch Prabowo's Middle East moves and US-China responses, as Iran war escalation could test this balancing act.