Three agendas for Minister Arrmanatha

Minister Arrmanatha Nasir's appointment as Indonesia's Foreign Minister on October 1st has been met with enthusiasm as many believe he can bring fresh energy to the country's foreign policy. However, it is crucial to understand that continuity is necessary in foreign policy, and Minister Arrmanatha sees himself as an "assistant" to the President in formulating and executing foreign policy.

While Indonesia's foreign policy needs a more comprehensive and coherent strategic framework, Minister Arrmanatha cannot tackle all the challenges at once. In the next decade or so, the challenges facing Indonesia are expected to become more severe. Thus, it is essential to focus on three strategic agendas for the next three years.

The first agenda is to develop a clearer multilateral institutional strategy, both at global and regional levels. The primary focus should be on Indonesia's position in and engagement with three critical multilateral institutions: the United Nations, BRICS, and other regional organizations. Specifically, Minister Arrmanatha should provide a clear rationale for seeking a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council and what Indonesia plans to achieve once elected.

Additionally, Minister Arrmanatha should gather ideas from the best minds in international affairs to revive the drive to reform the UN, particularly its Security Council.

The second agenda is to define and pursue specific objectives for Indonesia's membership in BRICS. Since Prabowo Subianto's government decided to join the grouping, the focus should be on formulating clear goals for how Indonesia wants BRICS to evolve. It is crucial to emphasize that the value of BRICS to Indonesia lies in its aim to ensure a more equitable and just international order.

It is essential to maintain BRICS as a platform for cooperation rather than an anti-West bloc, and other members should not use BRICS for their own national strategic agendas.