Harmonizing Regional Interests: Assessing The Efficacy Of The Asean Outlook On The Indo-Pacific (Aoip) Strategy And Its Implications For Indonesian Defense

Abstract

Amidst the backdrop of global uncertainty, nations worldwide are formulating strategies to safeguard their national interests and ensure continuity. This environment has spurred major powers to vie for expanded influence and hegemony across the globe, resulting in intensifying rivalries. Notably, the rise of China as a new hegemonic force, epitomized by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has drawn the United States, a superpower, into contesting China's interests, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. This contest has manifested through collaborative defense efforts like the QUAD and AUKUS among other initiatives. Consequently, the Ind[1]o-Pacific's geopolitical landscape has undergone profound shifts, impacting neighboring nations, including ASEAN. In response to these major power rivalries and the imperative to uphold regional stability, ASEAN has introduced the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) concept as a diplomatic strategy to reconcile diverse regional interests. Employing qualitative research methods, this study delves into the effectiveness of the AOIP in harmonizing the interests of nations within the region and its repercussions on Indonesia's defense posture. The findings of this research affirm the AOIP concept's efficacy in serving as a bridge between the interests of ASEAN nations and major powers operating in the Indo-Pacific. Moreover, the study highlights the continued relevance of Indonesia's defense strategy, anchored in active defensive principles, in navigating the complex regional and global dynamics.