Indonesia stresses preparedness, vigilance, realism in diplomacy amid fragile global order

JAKARTA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said on Wednesday that Indonesia's diplomacy must be built on preparedness, vigilance and realism, as the current global order grows increasingly fragile and the world enters a dangerous "gray zone" marked by sharper competition, deeper fragmentation and blurred boundaries between peace and conflict.

Speaking at the 2026 annual press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta, Sugiono said narrow national interests are overriding collective security, while international law, long regarded as a cornerstone of global stability, is being misused and frequently violated without consequences.

"When jointly agreed rules are broken without accountability, what collapses is not only a single rule, but trust in the entire order itself," he said.

Sugiono noted that global governance mechanisms established to manage crises are struggling to keep pace with rapidly changing geopolitical realities. He added that several key countries have withdrawn from their global responsibilities, further weakening international cooperation.

According to him, the global landscape is moving toward sharper competition and deeper fragmentation, characterized by economic interdependence and the growing influence of non-state actors.

Against this backdrop, Sugiono stressed that countries lacking clear strategies risk being swept along by global turbulence. Indonesia, he said, must not fall into that category.

"We must see the world as it is, harsh, competitive and increasingly unpredictable," he said, adding that Indonesia's diplomacy must be grounded in preparedness, vigilance and realism to safeguard national interests and resilience.■