Indonesia, a vast archipelago with more than 17,000 islands and 281 million people, is often overlooked in global geopolitics despite its immensely important strategic position in the 21st century. As the world’s fourth-most populous nation and the largest Muslim-majority democracy, Indonesia isn’t just a passive observer—it’s a regional powerhouse trying to strike a delicate balance between two giants, China and the United States. But in its attempts to navigate these turbulent waters, the country faces a fundamental question: Can Indonesia remain true to its principles while also preserving its economic and security interests?
The…