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.
Relationships between countries are very important to meet the needs of each country. Countries cooperate with other countries or with regional and international organizations to meet their national interests. To fulfill these national interests, a country conducts diplomacy.
In the implementation of foreign policy and to achieve national interests, diplomacy is one of the main tools used by the state which can also be used to build the country's image. Indonesia's joining IORA is a form of Indonesia's diplomacy in terms of maritime. Maritime diplomacy is a negotiation conducted by two or more countries regarding maritime cooperation, maritime boundaries, and maritime defense.
The concept of the World Maritime Axis is Indonesia's marine vision to advance Indonesia's maritime affairs. IORA is considered to have the same goal as Indonesia's vision as the World Maritime Axis. Indonesia then realized the PMD concept with maritime diplomacy as a medium to realize its national interests in the maritime sector through IORA.
The state acts as the main actor in decision-making and plays an important role in international relations which greatly affects society and its domestic conditions. Decisions taken by the government are certainly based on the possibility of profit and loss that has been calculated. In establishing cooperation with other countries or organizations, countries will choose cooperation that is considered the most profitable for them.
The same applies to Indonesia's maritime diplomacy in IORA. Indonesia joined IORA to realize its national interest, namely the World Maritime Axis (PMD) which will make Indonesia's maritime strong and independent. In realizing this PMD concept, Indonesia certainly cannot do it alone. It needs cooperation and diplomacy, in addition to gaining more strength, it can also be used to introduce and develop the country's image.
Although realizing the concept of the World Maritime Axis or diplomacy through IORA has many challenges. However, this cooperation is a cooperation that provides quite a lot of benefits for Indonesia and other IORA member countries.
I am Karina Voni Marita, an International Relations (B) student from University of Technology Yogyakarta, a B accredited university, class of 2022. The reason I entered International Relations is because I am interested in issues related to international relations. My favorite course is Global Security and my favorite lecturers are Mr. Adi Wibawa, Mrs. Hidayat Chusnul, and Mrs. Lucitania Rizky. Â I will take Business concentration next semester.
