The Reorientation of Indonesia’s Maritime Fulcrum in Addressing Shifting Priorities and Strategic Challenges
Main Article Content
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this article is to review the literature related to Indonesia’s Global Maritime Fulcrum (GMF) policy, which was initiated by President Joko Widodo at the beginning of his administration in 2014. This study seeks to identify the challenges that arose during the transition and implementation of the GMF policy, particularly in the period from 2014 to 2019.
Study Design/Methodology/Approach: This article employs a qualitative research method with a descriptive-analytical approach. Literature sources such as journal articles, opinion pieces, books, and documents from relevant ministries and agencies are utilized to analyze the trends in the development of PMD policy during the second half of President Joko Widodo's administration.
Findings: The findings indicate that most recent literature suggests a shift in priorities during President Joko Widodo's second term (2014-2019) concerning the GMF policy. This shift is evident from the decreasing focus on GMF in various speeches and governmental policies, alongside a greater emphasis on land-based infrastructure and economic development rather than maritime. The article categorizes the factors contributing to this shift into two major groups: external challenges and internal challenges. The primary external challenge currently faced by Indonesia is the increasing aggressiveness of China in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the internal challenges include the limitations of military budgets, the COVID-19 pandemic, the allure of China's economic incentives, and a lack of coordination among related ministries and agencies.Top of FormBottom of Form
Originality/Value: The study underscores the need on GMF issues should focus more on the prioritization of GMF programs. Additionally, relevant ministries and agencies need to establish realistic priorities within the GMF program, considering current budgetary constraints and the socio-political and economic landscape, to effectively achieve the GMF vision.
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Agastia, I. G. B. D. (2021). Joko Widodo’s Fleeting Maritime Ambitions: An Actor-Specific Analysis of Indonesia’s Global Maritime Fulcrum. Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 8(3), 304–323. https://doi.org/10.1177/23477970211039306.
Ali, Ismail et al. (2020). A Reflection of “Indonesian Maritime Fulcrum” Initiative: Maritime History and Geopolitical Changes, Journal of Maritime Studies and National Integration 4 (1), 12-23, https://doi.org/10.14710/jmsni.v4i1.8081.
Auld, K., Baumler, R., Han, D. P., & Neat, F. (2023). The collective effort of the United Nations Specialised Agencies to tackle the global problem of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Ocean & Coastal Management, 243, 106720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106720.
Asmar, Yudi et al. (2023). Kebijakan Poros Maritim Dunia Dihadapkan Dengan Undang-Undang No. 32 Tahun 2014 Dalam Rangka Mewujudkan Ketahanan Nasional, Journal of Innovation Research and Knowledge, Vol. 2, No.8.
Aufiya, M. A. (2017). Indonesia’s Global Maritime Fulcrum: Contribution in the Indo-Pacific Region. Andalas Journal of International Studies (AJIS), 6(2), 143. https://doi.org/10.25077/ajis.6.2.143-158.2017.
Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional. (2015). “Lampiran Peraturan Presiden Republik Indonesia Nomor 2 Tahun 2015 Tentang Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Nasional (2015-2019): Buku II Agenda Pembangunan Bidang”. https://perpustakaan.bappenas.go.id/e-library/file_upload/koleksi/migrasi-data-publikasi/file/RP_RKP/RPJMN%202015%20-%202019/BUKU%20II%20RPJMN%202015-2019.pdf.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2016). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. SAGE Publications.
Chapsos, I., & Hamilton, S. (2019). Illegal fishing and fisheries crime as a transnational organized crime in Indonesia. Trends in Organized Crime, 22(3), 255-273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-018-9329-8
Chubb, A. (2021). PRC Assertiveness in the South China Sea: Measuring Continuity and Change, 1970–2015. International Security, 45(3), 79–121. https://doi.org/10.1162/isec_a_00400
Fangyin, Z. (2016). Between assertiveness and self-restraint: understanding China's South China Sea policy. International Affairs, 92 (4), 869-890.
Gammeltoft, P., & Tarmidi, L. T. (2013). Chinese foreign direct investment in Indonesia: trends, drivers and impacts. International Journal of Technological Learning Innovation and Development, 6(1/2), 136. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijtlid.2013.051701.
Gindarsah, Iin dan Adhi Priamarizki. (2015). Indonesia's Maritime Doctrine and Security Concerns, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, http://www.jstor.com/stable/resrep05869.
Gopal, P. (2017). Maritime security in the indo-pacific: the role of the US and its allies. Maritime Affairs: Journal of the National Maritime Foundation of India, 13(1), 27-40. https://doi.org/10.1080/09733159.2017.1321208.
Ha, H. T., & Singh, D. (2023). Southeast Asian Affairs 2023. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.
Hudaya, M., & Putra, A. T. (2018). Toward Indonesia as Global Maritime Fulcrum: Correcting Doctrine and Combating Non-Traditional Maritime Threats. Jurnal Hubungan Internasional, 10(2), 177. https://doi.org/10.20473/jhi.v10i2.7304.
Ihsan, R., & Munabari, F. (2023). The Gas and Brake Policy: Indonesia’s COVID-19 Securitization Dilemmas. TRaNS Trans -Regional And -National Studies of Southeast Asia, 11(1), 103–119. https://doi.org/10.1017/trn.2022.15
Kemenko Bidang Keaaritiman dan Investasi. (2021). Rencana Aksi Kebijakan Kelautan Indonesia Tahun 2021-2025, https://jdih.maritim.go.id/id/rencana-aksi-kebijakan-kelautan-indonesia-tahun-2021-2025.
Kementerian Perhubungan RI. (2014), Pembangunan Poros Maritim Nasional Masuk Outlook 2015, https://dephub.go.id/post/read/pembangunan-poros-maritim-nasional-masuk-outlook-2015.
Kumparan. (2019). Anggaran Kemenko Maritim di APBN 2019 Turun, Luhut Tak Minta Tambahan, https://kumparan.com/kumparanbisnis/anggaran-kemenko-maritim-di-apbn-2019-turun-luhut-tak-minta-tambahan.
Kuncoro, P. A., Siregar, A. R., & Hasanah, U. (2023). Upaya pemerintah Indonesia dalam menjaga keamanan maritim. Nusantara: Jurnal Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial, 10(2). http://jurnal.um-tapsel.ac.id/index.php/nusantara
Kwon, J. (2019). The Turn of the Tide: Explaining China’s Growing Assertiveness in the South China Sea. International Relations and Diplomacy, 7 (2), 49-65. 10.17265/2328-2134/2019.02.001
Laksmana, E. (2017). “Indonesian Sea Policy: Accelerating Jokowi’s Global Maritime Fulcrum?” Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. 23 March 2017.
Laksmana, E. (2019). “Indonesia as “Global Maritime Fulcrum”: A post-mortem analysis”. Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. 8 November 2019.
Laksmana, E. A. (2022). Remodelling Indonesia’s maritime law enforcement architecture: Theoretical and policy considerations. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 44(1), 122–149. https://doi.org/10.1355/cs44-1e
Lemhannas RI. (2022). Terdampak Krisis, Negara-Negara Kurangi Anggaran di Sektor Maritim, https://www.lemhannas.go.id/index.php/publikasi/press-release/1688-terdampak-krisis-negara-negara-kurangi-anggaran-di-sektor-maritim.
Muammar, N., & Mosyofa, A. (2024). Kebijakan maritim Indonesia dalam menunjang sistem keamanan transportasi laut. Riset Sains dan Teknologi Kelautan, 7(1), 46–50. https://doi.org/10.62012/sensistek.v7i1.31639
Nurhayati, E. S., Putri, R. A., & Rahmawati, I. (2023). Analysis of Indonesia's maritime security strategy and policy as the world maritime axis. JETISH: Journal of Education Technology Information Social Sciences and Health, 2(1).
Pattiradjawane, Rene L. & Soebagjo, N. (2015). Global Maritime Axis: Indonesia, China, and a New Approach to Southeast Asian Regional Resilience. International Journal of China Studies, 6 (2), 175-185.Witular, Rendi A. (2014). “Jokowi Launches Maritime Doctrine to the World”. The Jakarta Post. 13 November 2014. https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/13/jokowi-launches-maritime-doctrine-world.html.
Prasetyo, K. A., Ansori, A., & Suseto, B. (2023). Maritime defense strategy education as an effort of the Indonesian government in maintaining maritime security. International Journal of Asian Education, 4(1), 58–67. https://doi.org/10.46966/ijae.v4i1.325.