October 2024
How Indonesia’s transformative leader tarnished his legacy
Many believe Joko Widodo has tried to bend the laws to install a political dynasty, undercutting the very democracy that let him become president.
Ex-general Prabowo sworn in as Indonesian president
The ceremony marked a remarkable comeback for a man who once faced Western-imposed sanctions and had two failed election bids against the man he is replacing.
August 2024
Our new quiet security embrace as Jakarta hedges bets
Indonesia’s strategic wariness of China has culminated in this week’s military co-operation agreement with Australia. But don’t read too much into it.
July 2024
Indonesia moves to reduce China’s investment in nickel projects
Jakarta wants to help its industry qualify for tax credits under Joe Biden’s initiative to build a US electric vehicle supply chain.
Trump’s ‘dangerous precedent’; ANZ lashed for fees; Bank names new CEO
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Indonesia’s remote new capital looks like a disaster
President Joko Widodo’s plan to create a city on an old timber plantation is late and over budget.
May 2024
Musk in Bali to launch Starlink satellite internet service
The billionaire head of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of social platform X to launch the service alongside outgoing Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Stellantis, Vale in nickel talks in Indonesian coup
The smelter deal would bring a rare Western investor to Indonesia, the world’s biggest producer of a commodity critical to making electric cars.
April 2024
Japan, US to seek Australia’s help in bolstering Indo-Pacific defence
Japanese officials indicate Australia would have a role to play to bolster ties in the region and reduce the risk of confrontations between China and the Philippines.
‘Old friend’: Indonesia’s Prabowo meets Xi in first foreign trip
Indonesia’s president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, met China’s President, Xi Jinping, in Beijing on Monday on his first foreign trip since his election.
Indonesia vows to speed up nickel output despite global glut
A deputy minister says the government wants to expand nickel production to achieve “price equilibrium” to support sustainable demand for EV batteries.
March 2024
Prabowo vows smooth transition, pushes privatisation
Indonesia’s putative president said he believed economic growth could reach 8 per cent annually within the next four or five years.
February 2024
History’s hand on Prabowo’s shoulder
The new president, steeped in Indonesian nationalism, is likely to hew closely to Joko Widodo’s middle path between the US and China.
Prabowo the continuity candidate will be far from a proxy president
Prabowo Subianto has finally breezed into power in his predecessor’s slipstream. But he will push through his own agenda with an unpredictable style as Indonesian president.
Presumed president Prabowo to plough ahead on nickel
Indonesia’s protectionist resource policies will cause grief to Australia’s miners under a Prabowo presidency.
Ex-general Prabowo claims victory in Indonesia election
The former military commander has declared a “victory for all the people of Indonesia”, and appears set to win without needing a run-off election.
Prabowo finally takes the office he has craved
The former military commander looks to have secured the Indonesian presidency – but will his time in office herald a new era for the country?
Energy protectionism complicates our ties with Indonesia
Rather than the lack of complementarity between the nations’ economies, it is the clash with Indonesia’s resource nationalism that is now a key focus of Australian interest in the election contest.
Indonesia’s Jokowi under fire over ‘election meddling’
The hugely popular outgoing president has backed away from campaigning for the frontrunner and his running mate, who is Jokowi’s son.
How Indonesia’s election will shift cosy China relationship
Indonesia is one of the most important ‘swing states’ in the US-China rivalry and, with a change of government on the way, it appears to be inching towards stronger ties with the West.