Indonesia as a country located between two oceans, the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, needs to make various maritime diplomacy efforts to improve and protect marine resources and introduce Indonesia's maritime power to the international community. One of the efforts made by Indonesia is by joining the regional organization, IORA. The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is the pioneer and only regional organization in the Indian Ocean region. The Indian Ocean is a strategic water area, especially for the world economy. The Indian Ocean serves as a hub for international trade routes that stretch from Asia to Europe and vice versa.
By joining IORA, Indonesia has a maritime strategy, namely the World Maritime Axis (PMD), which aims to maximize Indonesia's maritime potential. The concept of the World Maritime Axis has five pillars that guide the Indonesian people towards the realization of the ideals of the PMD.
One of the pillars of PMD is maritime diplomacy which is used by Indonesia to realize the world maritime axis and to strengthen bilateral relations with other countries, it can be used to fight for national interests, especially in strategic issues in the maritime sector.
The concept of the World Maritime Axis is not just a statement but has become a reality as a manifestation of Indonesia's determination to make maritime potential the main pillar of economic growth. It places special emphasis on trade cooperation and economic development, and not only seeks to protect marine resources, but also actively seeks to strengthen diplomatic networks with neighboring countries.
These efforts are not only limited to strengthening bilateral relations, but also include active participation in regional organizations such as IORA. Through this initiative, Indonesia will make a significant contribution to cross-border cooperation and explore the economic and strategic potential of the entire Indian Ocean region.
Indonesian Maritime Diplomacy Seen from The Foreign Policy Model
Graham T. Allison divides three concepts of foreign policy making models, namely the rational actor model, the political bureaucracy model, and the organizational process model. The rational actor model considers a country's foreign policy choices as an ideal product. Rational decision-making will consider foreign policy objectives and determine which options have the highest priority among other options.
Rational agents in decision-making can estimate outcomes and calculate the expected value or benefits of each option. With these assumptions, decision makers calculate the expected value of each alternative, compare all alternatives, and choose the one that maximizes benefits and minimizes costs. Rational actors also then compare the consequences that have been made, which of course will ultimately determine the best alternative. This involves not only gains and losses, but also estimating the possibility of various outcomes.
In Indonesia's maritime diplomacy in IORA, which is also related to the concept of the World Maritime Axis, if explained by the concept of this rational actor model, Indonesia's ambition to realize the World Maritime Axis is intended to make Indonesia a large, strong and prosperous maritime country. This determined foreign policy is the result of a profit and loss calculation.
Although the realization will be very complex and take a long time and the funds needed for this project are not small, the potential or benefits that will be obtained from realizing this PMD will be greater. With the vast marine area in Indonesia, if the entire marine sector in Indonesia is mobilized and maximally utilized, the benefits obtained can be in the form of high economic growth and will open up many jobs.
With Indonesia's leadership as the Chair of IORA in the 2015-2017 period, IORA became a means for Indonesia to realize these interests. In its role as chair of IORA, Indonesia implemented several agendas related to strategic issues in the Indian Ocean region.
The implementation of these agendas is related to Indonesia's national interest in becoming a World Maritime Axis country. With Indonesia's participation as an agenda implementer in IORA, Indonesia also has an interest in exerting dominance as a hegemon country in the Indian Ocean region. Thus, Indonesia can show its national power in the eyes of the world.
