The President of G20 Indonesia shows neutrality in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Before news confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to attend the Group of 20 Summit of the world’s top 20 economies (G20) in Bali next October and Ukraine called on Indonesia to refuse this participation, Indonesia in the role of G20 President has affirmed his neutral and objective attitude.

During a press conference on March 24, the Indonesian Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized: As the rotating Chairman, Indonesia will hold the G20 Summit in a neutral and objective manner.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s Special Adviser on Enhancing the G20 Priority Programs, Dian Triansyah Djani said, Indonesia is carrying out its duties as the G20 President based on the same rules and procedures as other countries. previous Presidency, including inviting all members to attend the Summit. Therefore, on February 22, Indonesia invited all members, including Russia, to attend the Conference in person in Bali.

Mr. Dian said that the G20 Summit in 2022 is organized to focus on the global economic recovery, which is a priority for the world today. Many countries, especially developing countries, are still facing economic difficulties and are difficult to achieve the expected targets.

Indonesia’s neutral stance comes after the Russian Embassy in Indonesia confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin planned to attend the G20 this time at the invitation of Indonesia if the situation got better. COVID-19 pandemic.

During a press conference in Jakarta last week, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Lyudmila Vobieva, said that the G20 meeting is not a discussion about the Ukraine crisis but to increase economic cooperation. Russia participated in various meetings both online and in person and expressed support for Indonesia’s G20 Presidency under the theme “Together recovery, stronger recovery”.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Embassy in Jakarta protested against the “appearance of the Russian president at multilateral and international forums and summits”. Ukraine’s ambassador to Indonesia, Vasyl Hamianin, called on “all democracies to contribute to ending Russia’s war crimes against Ukraine.”

Indonesian experts and scholars say that Indonesia can take advantage of the G20 to play a mediating role between the two sides. Director of the Indonesian Center for Economic and Law Studies, Bhima Yudhistira suggested that President Joko Widodo had the important task of defuse the parties to the conflict by referring to the global economic impact caused by war in the Middle Ages. the point where the economy is just starting to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Poor and developing countries including Indonesia will suffer economically if Russia continues its military campaign in Ukraine.

Indonesia began its G20 Presidency in December 2021 and will end in November 2022. As the G20 President, Indonesia will focus on three strategic priorities: global health, digital economic transformation and sustainable energy transition.