United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has commended Indonesia for its significant contributions to global peacekeeping and multilateral cooperation. During his visit to Jakarta for the Foreign Policy Circle Talks, Guterres emphasized Indonesia’s vital role in fostering international collaboration and development.
Guterres highlighted the Southeast Asian nation’s participation in various international organizations, including the United Nations, ASEAN, the G20, and BRICS. He praised Indonesia’s diplomatic influence in the Asia-Pacific region and the Global South, recalling its historical hosting of the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung, which championed non-alignment and national self-determination.
Indonesia’s active involvement in UN peacekeeping missions was a central theme of Guterres’s remarks. Currently, nearly 2,000 Indonesian military and police personnel are deployed across seven UN missions worldwide. During a visit to a peacekeeping training center in Sentul, West Java, Guterres met with personnel gearing up for deployment to the Central African Republic, applauding their preparedness and dedication to international peace efforts.
The Secretary-General also underscored the collaborative efforts between ASEAN and the UN in areas such as conflict prevention, sustainable development, and human rights advocacy. He noted that Indonesia’s diplomatic engagement and peacekeeping initiatives have bolstered its position in promoting dialogue and cooperation among nations.
Guterres’s visit and acknowledgment of Indonesia’s efforts underscore the country’s growing influence in global peace and multilateral endeavors, solidifying its status as a key player in fostering international stability and cooperation.