The Effect of Indonesia’s Candidature as United Nations’ Security

Council Non-permanent Member on Its Foreign Policy

Natasya Fila Rais

Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia

Keywords : Foreign Policy, Indonesia, International Relations, Security Council, United Nations.

Abstract : The creation of United Nations’ Security Council is aimed to implement the purpose of maintaining

international peace and security, as it is stated on the United Nations Charter. Indonesia, as one of the member

states of United Nations, has taken its role in United Nations Security Council several times. The country has

served its position in the Council as a non- permanent member for three times, which are for the periods of

1974-1975, 1995-1996, and 2007- 2008. In 2016, Indonesia announced its candidature as a non-permanent

member of United Nations Security Council for the period of 2019-2020. Indonesia has a big amount of

potential in terms of becoming United Nations Security Council for the period of 2019-2020. First, Indonesia

has been active in maintaining peace and security between United Nations member states, for example by

becoming an active contributor for UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO). Second, Indonesia’s position as

a non-permanent member of United Nations Security Council will give a chance for the country to speak up

on current international issues, especially regarding democracy and terrorism. If Indonesia was selected as a

nonpermanent member for the Security Council, it will affect the country’s foreign policies in different

sectors, especially those that are in relations with permanent members of Security Council. The research

question that will investigate is “How does Indonesia’s candidature for the United Nations Security Council

will affect the country’s foreign policy implementation?” The research methods that are used for this paper is

literature review on Indonesia’s foreign policies.

1 INTRODUCTION

Six main organs in the United Nations were

established based on the UN Charter. One of the

organs established was the United Nations Security

Council (UNSC). The Charter itself gives primary

responsibility for maintaining international peace and

security to the Security Council, which may meet

whenever peace is threatened. The Charter points out

four United Nations purposes, which are to maintain

international peace and security, to develop friendly

relations among nations, to cooperate in solving

international problems and in promoting respect for

human rights, and to be a center for harmonizing the

actions of the nations. The creation of Security

Council itself is to implement the purpose of

maintaining international peace and security. The

actions that can be taken along the process are

undertaking investigation and mediation on

concerning a threat to peace, issuing ceasefire when a

dispute is leading towards hostilities, and deciding on

several enforcements measures. There are five

permanent members of the Security Council, such as

China, France, Russian Federation, the United

Kingdom, and the United States, and ten non-

permanent members of the Council, which are

selected for two-year terms.

2 METHODS

The research method that is used for this paper is

literature review. The research was conducted

January 2018 until May 2018. Researcher looked

through Indonesia’s past involvement as a non-

permanent member of the United Nations’ Security

Council. Researcher also looked through statements

and documents created by Indonesia’s Ministry of

Foreign Affairs regarding the candidature. Thorough

research on Indonesia’s existing foreign policies and

projection for future policies was needed in order to

create a prediction on how the candidature will affect

Indonesia’s foreign policy and how Indonesia is in a

potential place to be the non-permanent member of

Rais, N.

The Effect of Indonesia’s Candidature as United Nations’ Security Council Non-permanent Member on Its Foreign Policy.

DOI: 10.5220/0010272300002309

In Proceedings of Airlangga Conference on International Relations (ACIR 2018) - Politics, Economy, and Security in Changing Indo-Paciﬁc Region, pages 5-8

ISBN: 978-989-758-493-0

United Nations’ Security Council. As an output, this

paper will include a conclusion on Indonesia’s

potential in becoming the non-permanent member of

the United Nations’ Security Council and how it will

affect Indonesia’s foreign policy.

3 RESULTS

Indonesia, as one of the member states of the United

Nations, has taken its role in the Security Council

several times. The country has served its position in

the Council as a nonpermanent member for three

times, which are for the terms of 1974-1975, 1995-

1996, and 2007-2008. During the period of 2007-

2008, Indonesia was selected by 80% of the United

Nations member states. In 2016, Indonesia

announced its candidature for non-permanent

membership of the United Nations Security Council

for the period of 2019-2020. As in 2018, Indonesia

has received support from at least 95 countries, in

which it consists of 2 unilateral support, 19 oral

support, and 54 mutual support based on pacts. The

Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, said during

the launching of the UN Security Council

membership candidature campaign that Maldives

posed as a strong candidate, however Indonesia had a

greater chance in taking the position. This

announcement was responded positively by several

countries, including Costa Rica. Costa Rica’s Foreign

Minister Manuel Antonio Gonzales revealed that both

countries shared similar stances in global issues, such

as climate change and sustainable development, and

Costa Rica respected Indonesia’s leadership in

ASEAN, which was one of the main considerations

of the support for the membership candidature.

4 DISCUSSION

Indonesia has a big amount of potential in terms of

becoming the United Nations Security Council for the

period of 2019-2020. First, Indonesia has been active

in maintaining peace and security between the United

Nations member states. Maintaining peace and

security is the main purpose of the United Nations

Security Council and Indonesia has taken a few

actions in order to serve that purpose. One of the most

notable actions taken by Indonesia is becoming an

active contributor for the UN Peacekeeping

Operations (UNPKO). Indonesia has sent more than

30.000 troops and police personnel to conflict areas

since 1957. Indonesia is planning to send 4.000 troops

by 2019 through “Vision 4.000 Peacekeepers”

program. Indonesia has become the coordinator of

Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) Working Group

on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation since 1994

and as Co-President of Article XIV Conference of the

Comprehensive Nuclear- Test-Ban Treaty from 2013

until 2015. Indonesia also served as Co-chairs of

South East Asia Capacity Working Group and Co-

Chairs of Detention and Reintegration Working

Group with Australia during Global Counter-

Terrorism Forum. Indonesia has also been active in

maintaining peace and security through its leadership

in ASEAN. Second, Indonesia’s position as a non-

permanent member of the United Nations Security

Council will give a chance for the country to speak up

on current international issues. It is known that

Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim country and

the third-largest democratic country. By holding

these positions, Indonesia is able to have great

chances in contributing towards global discussions.

Indonesia will be in a great position when it comes to

raising its voices during discussions about terrorism

and democracy. Indonesia will also be able to take

steps if any security problem happens in another

country, as the country itself is contributing in

sending peacekeeper troops. Indonesia can also be a

good representative for developing countries in the

council. Lastly, Indonesia suggested a fundamental

discussion in order to create balance within the

amount of developed countries and developing

countries in the Security Council. By having

Indonesia

as a member of the council, it will be one

step ahead towards the aforementioned balance.

By having Indonesia as a nonpermanent member

of United Nations’ Security Council, Indonesia will

have a good projection in creating foreign policies for

the future. According to yearly press speech done by

Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno

Marsudi, Indonesia is trying to focus on eight issues

in order to develop its foreign policies. One of the

issues that is listed on the list is about Indonesia’s

candidature as United Nations’ Security Council non-

permanent member. Aside from that, several other

issues that become Indonesia’s focus on advancing

the country’s foreign policy include its involvement

in ASEAN, enhancing humanity and security

diplomacy, successing international-scale events held

in Indonesia, fencing borders and guarding

sovereignty, enhancing protection for Indonesian

citizens in foreign countries, intensification of

economic cooperation discussion, and enhancing

diplomacy in order to eradicate transnational

organized crime. If Indonesia was selected as a non-

permanent member of United Nations’ Security

ACIR 2018 - Airlangga Conference on International Relations

Council, Indonesia would be seen as a respected

country and this will ease the country in advancing

the foreign policy. For example, regarding

involvement in ASEAN, it is said that Indonesia will

focus on strengthening unity and centrality in

ASEAN. In connection to the candidature, it could be

a good chance for Indonesia to gain support from

ASEAN countries. ASEAN countries will see

Indonesia as a leading country, not only as one of the

founding countries of ASEAN, but also as ASEAN

countries representative in the Security Council. By

becoming a non-permanent member of the Security

Council, Indonesia will have a good shot in bringing

the discussion about South China Sea dispute

between China and ASEAN countries, so that the

security and peace among the countries will be

maintained. Second, in terms of enhancing humanity

and security diplomacy, it is stated that Indonesia will

enhance partnership with like-minded countries in

order to maintain the world’s security. By doing so,

Indonesia will be able to gather countries in order to

exchange perspectives in creating a peaceful and

secure world. Third, Indonesia will host one of the

biggest sporting event in Asia, Asian Games 2018. By

proving that Indonesia is able to hold such event, it

will be seen that Indonesia has a high level of security

that it can protect representatives from various

countries. Aside from Asian Games 2018, Indonesia

will also be the host for other international-scale

events, such as Indonesia-Africa Forum, World

Conference on Creative Economy, Our Ocean

Conference, and the annual meeting for International

Monetary Fund and World Bank Group. Fourth, the

settlement of discussion regarding Indonesian

borders and sovereignty will symbolize Indonesia’s

commitment in maintaining security among countries

which are abut with Indonesia. In 2017, Indonesia has

done 35 discussions regarding borders, which

consists of 11 maritime border discussions, 5

discussions with Malaysia’s Prime Minister, and 19

discussions regarding demarcation of land borders.

Indonesia has also ratified several treaties and

memorandums of understanding regarding border

areas with Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and

Papua New Guinea. Fifth, Indonesia will guarantee

the rights of its citizens in foreign countries. The

government will also create a special database

regarding the number of Indonesian citizens who live

abroad, launching a safe travel mobile application,

and creating a one-system service for consular. By

becoming a country that promotes technological

usage in maintaining the security of citizens abroad,

Indonesia might have a big chance to be considered

as an advanced country that never stops creating

progress. Sixth, Indonesia will be focused on

intensificating trade and economic partnerships in

forms of Comprehensive Economic Partnership

Agreement (CEPA), Free Trade Area (FTA), and

Preferential Trade Area (PTA). Indonesia will also

maintain investment partnerships with countries, such

as Switzerland. Indonesia will be seen as a country

with a potential market for trading and economic

cooperation. This can affect other sectors, including

security and peace. Lastly, Indonesia is one of a few

countries that are on the front line to eradicate

transnational organized crime. Indonesia will put its

effort to create ASEAN Extradition treaty with other

ASEAN countries. By having a real proof on

maintaining the world’s peace and security, it is

guaranteed that Indonesia can be a great non-

permanent member of the Security Council.

5 CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, Indonesia has a great potential in

becoming a non-permanent member of the United

Nations Security Council. This potential is a result of

the past actions Indonesia has done in order to serve

the purpose of the Security Council itself. By having

Indonesia as one of its members, the Security Council

will be able to maintain the global peace and security,

as well as balancing the amount of voices within

developed and developing countries inside the

council.

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