Indonesia is a developing country, but also a member of the G20 — an economic bloc comprising 20 of the world's largest economies — said Philips J. Vermonte, the PCO's spokesperson for foreign affairs.
This position enables Indonesia to represent the interests of the Global South, which align with its own national priorities.
"If we realize this one unique role that we can play at the global level — to bridge between developing and developed nations — we can bring meaningful impact," Vermonte said at the "Exploring the Global South: Epistemologies, Development Pathways, and Research Network" forum on Thursday.
Indonesia, he added, also uses other platforms to pursue these interests, such as APEC and the D-8, which he described as the world's third-largest economic bloc.
Vermonte noted that strengthening ties between ASEAN and the African Union also opens the door to South-South cooperation based on mutual respect, shared development goals, and regional integration.
"Part of this is the possibility of South-South triangular cooperation with support from Northern countries — and here, I specifically refer to Japan," he said.
Vermonte acknowledged that Indonesia and other Global South nations are not immune to geopolitical tensions, particularly between the United States and China. However, he emphasized that Indonesia's cultural and historical approach has often been to transform conflict into opportunities for cooperation and peacekeeping.
As an example, while some BRICS members have strained ties with the US, Indonesia continues to maintain positive relations with both the US and BRICS nations.
"Indonesia is one of the largest contributors to peacekeeping operations, as acknowledged by the United States, the United Nations, and others," he said.
According to Vermonte, all these efforts reflect the principles outlined in the Preamble to Indonesia's 1945 Constitution — to protect the people and their land, promote general welfare, educate the public, and contribute to world peace and order.
"If you reverse the order, they're all interconnected. We need a safe world to protect our land, grow our prosperity, and educate our people," he said.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Anton Santoso
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