Indonesia calls on NAM to strengthen strategic autonomy, shape future

Jakarta has urged the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to bolster strategic independence in critical areas such as food, technology, and energy. This call was made by Deputy Foreign Minister Anis Matta during a gathering in Belgrade, Serbia, to mark the 65th anniversary of the inaugural NAM Summit. Anis emphasized that the movement should play a role in shaping a future built on justice, sovereignty, and collaboration.

The NAM should not become entangled in historical retrospection, he stressed in a statement released by the Foreign Ministry. Anis, who represented President Prabowo Subianto at the meeting held from August 30 to September 1, stated that Indonesia's involvement demonstrated its conviction in the enduring significance of the Bandung Ten Principles.

These principles, including peaceful dispute resolution and adherence to international law, were first articulated at the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung, Indonesia. Anis further urged the NAM to maintain its support for Palestinian independence, considering it a historical obligation. The NAM, as outlined on its official website, comprises 120 member states, 18 observer countries, and 10 observer organizations, since its establishment in 1961 following the Asian-African Conference.