Amid the warming global geopolitical dynamics, Indonesia's position as a bridge between Asia and the Pacific is crucial to continue strengthening.
Indonesia holds a strategic position in the geopolitical dynamics of the Pacific region, although its diplomatic attention still tends to be focused on Southeast Asia due to economic reasons and the proximity of the organization through ASEAN.
According to Dr. Melyana Ratana Pugu of Cenderawasih University, through the Pacific Elevation approach, Indonesia has actually begun to shift its focus southward in response to the great power rivalry between China and the United States in the region.
Although countries such as Fiji, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea are geographically small and remote, they have tremendous natural resource potential as well as high geopolitical value as a counterweight to global power.
Papua plays a central role in this diplomacy through its Melanesian cultural and racial identity that creates a strong emotional bond with Pacific peoples.
People-to-people contact built through cultural missions and the involvement of Papuan academics has proven effective in providing a better understanding of Indonesia's position in international eyes, while mitigating sensitive issues related to Papua.
Indonesia's status as an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) underlines Papua's important role as a “front page” of diplomacy.
However, the effectiveness of this link still faces infrastructure constraints, especially the lack of direct transport connections from Papua to neighboring countries in the Pacific that necessitates a detour through Jakarta.
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Nurhadi Sucahyo
