ISNU calls on govt to strengthen geopolitics

Jakarta, Habib Syech Bersholawat. Indonesias geographical constellation as an archipelago located between thecontinents of Asia and Australia and between the Pacific and Indian oceans,has positioned itself as a region. In addition to the land area that containsabundant natural resources in agriculture, plantation and mining, Indonesianwaters are also very strategic because of its position as the world trade traffic.

Indonesian sea is not only littered with tremendous economic potential, butalso the ecological, military and defense buffer, as well as transportation andinternational trade. Therefore, the government of Indonesia should be able toread its potential and bargaining power in addition to strengthening its positionin the changing world geopolitical constellation.

ISNU calls on govt to strengthen geopolitics (Sumber Gambar : Nu Online)

ISNU calls on govt to strengthen geopolitics

Ali Masykur Musa, chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama Scholar Association (ISNU)made the remarks at its 4th expert panel discussion taking up issues ongeopolitics and foreign diplomacy at NU headquarters, Jl Kramat Raya 164Jakarta (5/11). Present at the occasion were Eddy Prasetyono (UI), MayjendAbdul Chasib (Lemhanas), and Agus Majend Suryabakti (BNPT).

According to Ali, there are at least two factors that require Indonesia torearrange its position to make it more robust and stable on the world stage.First, the geopolitical world is changing, which is characterized by a shift in thecenter of the world economic power and the world defense from the Atlantic tothe Pacific.

Habib Syech Bersholawat

Once the crisis hit America-that has yet to fully recover-andfollowed by a long recession in Europe, Asia likely appears as a promisingeconomic power. Large countries like the United States are now payin moreattention to the developments in the Asia Pacific region. In the PresidentObamas visit to Australia related to the placement of Marines in Darwin, hestated that the U.S. governments top priority is the Asia Pacific region.

The Obamas statement was reinforced by the U.S. Secretary of Defense LeonPanette saying that the U.S. would put 60% of military forces in Asia Pacific and would gradually shift the focus of the placement of military forces from theAtlantic to the Paisfik.

Habib Syech Bersholawat

In this changing world constellation, countries in the region such as China,Japan, India and Indonesia have a very strategic position. Indonesia itself hasnow beome the world spotlight as its economy continues to grow at over 6percent per year and is expected to be The Next Economic superpower in 2030along with China, India, and South Korea.

Second, Indonesia has the extraordinary marine potential in geopolitical andeconomic importance. Geopolitically, Indonesia has very strategic archipelagicsea lanes (ALKI) because about 40% of world trade are through the Indonesianstraits and waters. The Malacca Strait that connects the islands of Sumatraand Malaysian Peninsula for example is the busiest waterway in the world afterthe Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.

Many countries rely their state budget and imports and exports on Indonesianwaters such as Australia, Singapore, Japan and China. Approximately 80-85%of Australia and Singapores budget rely on transport traffic in the Indonesianwaters. Japan and China rely 80 percent its energy supply from the MiddleEast through the Strait of Malacca.

Writer : Mukafi Niam

Editor : Sudarto Murtaufiq

Dari (National) Nu Online: http://www.nu.or.id/post/read/40651/isnu-calls-on-govt-to-strengthen-geopolitics

Habib Syech Bersholawat