Editing Foreign relations of Indonesia (section)

=== Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ===

A cornerstone of Indonesia's contemporary foreign policy is its participation in the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN),<ref>{{citation |author1=Dewi Fortuna Anwar |title=The Impact of Domestic and Asian Regional Changes on Indonesian Foreign Policy |journal=Southeast Asian Affairs |volume=2010 |page=132 |date=2010 |jstor=41418562}}</ref> of which it was a founding member in 1967 with [[Thailand]], [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], and the [[Philippines]]. Since then, [[Brunei]], [[Vietnam]], [[Laos]], [[Myanmar]], and [[Cambodia]] also have joined ASEAN. While organised to promote shared economic, social, and cultural goals, ASEAN acquired a security dimension after Vietnam's liberation of Cambodia in 1979; this aspect of ASEAN expanded with the establishment of the ASEAN Regional Forum in 1994, which comprises 22 countries, including the US.

The Indonesian capital [[Jakarta]] is also the seat of ASEAN Secretariat. Other than serving their diplomatic missions for Indonesia, numerous of foreign embassies and diplomatic mission in [[Jakarta]] are also accredited to ASEAN. The presence of the ASEAN Headquarters has made [[Jakarta]] a diplomatic hub in Southeast Asia in some regards.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Indonesia's domestic troubles distracted it from ASEAN matters and consequently reduced its influence within the organisation. However, after the political and economic transformation, from the turmoil of 1998 ''[[Post-Suharto era|Reformasi]]'' to the relatively open and democratic civil society with rapid economic growth in the 2010s, Indonesia returned to the region's diplomatic stage by assuming its leadership role in ASEAN in 2011. Indonesia is viewed to have weight, international legitimacy and global appeal to draw support and attention from around the world to ASEAN. Indonesia believes that ASEAN can contribute positively to the international community, by promoting economic development and co-operation, improving security, peace, the stability of ASEAN, and making the Southeast Asia region far from conflicts.<ref name="Antara" />

Indonesia's bilateral relations with three neighbouring ASEAN members—Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam—are not without challenges. If not appropriately managed, it would result in mutual mistrust and suspicion, thus hindering bilateral and regional co-operation. In the era of rising Indonesia, which might assert its leadership role within ASEAN, the problem could become more significant. Nevertheless, the rise of Indonesia should be regarded in the sense of optimism. First, although Indonesia is likely to become assertive, the general tone of its foreign policy is mainly liberal and accommodating. The consolidation of the Indonesian democratic government played a key role and influence in ASEAN. The second, institutional web of ASEAN will sustain engagements and regular meetings between regional elites, thus deepening their mutual understanding and personal connections.<ref>{{cite book|title= Indonesia's Ascent: Power, Leadership, and the Regional Order, Critical Studies of the Asia-Pacific |first=Christopher B. |last=Roberts |editor1=Christopher B. Roberts|editor2=Ahmad D. Habir| editor3=Leonard C. Sebastian |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-137-39741-6| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gbm_BwAAQBAJ |pages=259–260|access-date=9 November 2015}}</ref>