In such conditions, Indonesia receives multitudes of offers from both countries, including foreign loan offers, free vaccines, and joint military exercisesJakarta (ANTARA) - The Garuda Shield joint military exercise between the Indonesian Army and US Army did not compromise on Indonesia's free and active foreign policy stance, University of Indonesia’s (UI’s) international law professor Hikmahanto Juwana stated.
"As Indonesia currently adheres to the free and active foreign policy doctrine, the joint exercise does not mean our country is getting closer to the United States," Professor Juwana noted in a written statement here on Friday.
Recently, the United States and China competed for domination in different parts of the world, particularly in connection with the South China Sea dispute, and both countries also vied for Indonesia's preference, as it offers a strategic value in several aspects, he remarked.
"In such conditions, Indonesia receives multitudes of offers from both countries, including foreign loan offers, free vaccines, and joint military exercises," he revealed.
Indonesia needs not reject those offers despite those countries expecting Indonesia to favour one country over the another after receiving the offers as long as the terms are not a threat to the national interests, Juwana emphasized.
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Professor Juwana stated that Indonesia's free and active foreign policy means it will conduct friendly diplomacy with countries of the world and accept favourable offers from other nations, with Indonesia's national interests being taken into account.
"Indonesia’s foreign policy should prioritise national interests first," Juwana affirmed.
He reiterated that the joint exercise with the US Army should not be interpreted as Indonesia currently favouring the United States.
"A perception that the joint exercise imperils our free and active foreign policy is simply wrong," he clarified.
Earlier, Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Andika Perkasa stated that the Garuda Shield joint exercise aims to allow Indonesian troops to expand their networks and engage with the US soldiers apart from gaining new experience and knowledge on warfare techniques.
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Translator: Azis Kurmala, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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