Dr. Mona Soliman‏‏

Indonesian President Joko Widodo concluded his two-day visit to the UAE on July 17, 2024, during which he was received by HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, who awarded him the Order of Zayed in appreciation of his efforts in strengthening relations between the two countries. He underlined the importance of fostering bilateral ties and embarking on broader horizons to benefit the goals of both countries. Relations between Jakarta and Abu Dhabi present a role model for other countries; for the political consensus between both countries and constructive economic cooperation. The two presidents agreed to continue coordination and communication between them to consolidate cooperation in various fields, and to confront the current regional and international geopolitical challenges in the Middle East and Southeast Asia in a way that achieves the strategic interests of the two countries. Important ResultsDiplomatic relations between Indonesia and the UAE date back to 1976. Afterwards, the Indonesian Embassy was inaugurated in Abu Dhabi in October 1978, followed by the Consulate General in February 2003. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has visited Abu Dhabi seven times since assuming office in 2014, including four times in the past two years since the UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, assumed office on May 14, 2022. This reflects the keenness of the political leadership of the two countries to continue intensive coordination and communication between them. Widodo's current visit to Abu Dhabi witnessed several important events, including:1- Praising the development of bilateral relations over the past decade: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, praised the role of his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, in developing relations between the two countries over the past decade and his interest in providing all the reasons for their progress. His Highness explained that the volume of non-oil trade exchange between the UAE and Indonesia increased over the past decade from $2.7 billion to $4.4 billion. He also commended the strong bilateral cultural ties that manifest in several landmarks in both countries such as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Solo, Indonesia, and Joko Widodo Street and Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, Widodo expressed his aspiration to continue constructive cooperation with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in various fields, including renewable energy; environment and climate change; trade, and investment.2- Emphasizing the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership: The UAE and Indonesia signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in July 2022, which entered into force in September 2023. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed described it as a qualitative turning point that contributed to expanding the horizons of economic cooperation as well as joint development. Widodo also stressed that the UAE is the only country in the Middle East with which Jakarta has concluded this agreement.The two presidents stressed the need to implement all provisions of the agreement to achieve its desired goals, which include raising the rate of trade exchange between them from $3 billion annually in 2021 to $10 billion within five years, removing customs duties on most goods and services, and increasing the total value of inter-trade in services to $630 million by the end of 2030. The agreement is of great importance to the two countries especially Abu Dhabi, as it enhances its economic cooperation with the largest ASEAN economy, Indonesia, and opens up a huge market with large numbers of consumers.3- Signing agreements to enhance cooperation in various fields: The UAE and Indonesian presidents witnessed the signing of a number of joint agreements and Memoranda of Understanding between the two countries in various fields to open new horizons for cooperation between them, including a framework agreement on maritime patrol aircraft, a number of memoranda of understanding on general budget management, cooperation between the UAE and Indonesian central banks on smart systems, the establishment of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Joko Widodo Center for Mangrove Research in Indonesia, cooperation between the Dubai International Financial Center and the Financial Authority in Nusantara, real estate development, tourism investment, as well as airport and hotel management. It is worth noting that the Central Bank of the UAE announced last May the use of local currencies in settling bilateral transactions with Indonesia, which enhances trade exchange between the two countries.4- Enhancing energy cooperation: The visit witnessed the signing of an agreement to install solar energy systems in Indonesia, and a memorandum of cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, which enhances cooperation between the two countries in this field. The visit came after Emirati companies announced huge discoveries of natural gas in Indonesia, as Mubadala Energy announced a huge gas discovery in the "Tangkulo-1" exploratory well drilled near the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and the discovery of a huge natural gas well, "Layaran-1", south of Andaman in Indonesia, was also announced.5- Expanding cooperation in climate action: During the visit, Abu Dhabi announced the "Mohamed bin Zayed - Joko Widodo" Center for Mangrove Research, through which Abu Dhabi will provide $10 million to enhance global efforts to develop mangroves, which are one of the most important natural vital solutions to confront climate change and protect coastal ecosystems. The center also contributes to enhancing climate and environmental sustainability in the world and embodies the strategic partnership between Abu Dhabi and Jakarta in various fields.Common InterestsThe visit of the Indonesian President to Abu Dhabi underlines the desire of the two countries to consolidate cooperation in various fields. Therefore, the visit leads to several implications as follows:1- Adding institutional momentum to joint cooperation: The visit of the Indonesian President to Abu Dhabi comes at the end of a number of events that added more momentum to the strategic cooperation between both countries. In November 2023, the new Indonesian embassy in Abu Dhabi was inaugurated, and the following day, the first session of the joint committee between the two countries was held in Abu Dhabi. In May 2024, the leading advanced technology and defense group EDGE signed a $27 million agreement with the Indonesian company PT Pindad to provide them with an ammunition production line with actual production starting in 2026. Then came the visit of the Indonesian president to consolidate cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Jakarta, and to establish institutional frameworks that are not linked to political leadership. The institutional frameworks will remain after the end of the Indonesian president’s term at the end of this year, and therefore Abu Dhabi and Jakarta will complete the vital leap in strategic cooperation between them that took place over the past decade, to achieve their strategic interests. 2- Expanding coordination on regional and international issues: The visit of the Indonesian President to the UAE derives its importance from the political weight of the two countries, as both are influential regional players in their surroundings and on the international level. Continued cooperation between them will positively reflect on the Middle East and Southeast Asia, as Jakarta supports the UAE's accession to ASEAN as a dialogue partner, and the UAE represents an important gateway for Indonesia to the Gulf countries to enhance cooperation between them. It also highlights Abu Dhabi's keenness to diversify external alliances and partnerships, which gives it strength in its foreign policy paths, as Abu Dhabi and Jakarta agree on a large number of international issues, including the need to stop the war in Gaza, rely on a negotiated solution to the Ukrainian war, ridding the world of nuclear weapons, and respecting the principles of international law and the United Nations. In addition to the continued coordination between them in a number of regional and international forums that include them, including the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the SICA Dialogue Conference, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization; This will enhance communication and coordination between them, and the regional status of each of them.3- Cooperation to spread moderate Islam: Indonesia is the largest Islamic country in Southeast Asia, and adopts the moderate approach of moderate Islam. The UAE also represents a unique model as an Islamic country that accepts religious pluralism and works to spread moderation and embody the civilization and humanity of Islam. This brings the two countries together to spread the principles of moderate Islam to confront extremist terrorist ideas, especially in light of the escalation of terrorist organizations in the Middle East again (ISIS, Al-Qaeda, ISIS Khorasan in Afghanistan) which have affiliated groups in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, urging a stronger security, intelligence and cultural cooperation to confront them.4- Promoting ​​tolerance and coexistence: The UAE and Indonesia are two models for adopting tolerance. The former hosts different nationalities, races, and religions that work to achieve an economic development boom in complete harmony, and the latter has a population that speaks more than 700 languages ​​and represents different Asian ethnicities, which makes them two models to be emulated in spreading the idea of ​​tolerance and acceptance of others. Therefore, in 2015, the two countries issued a joint statement stressing the importance of spreading the concept of tolerance to achieve peace, security, and stability in the world and encouraging interfaith dialogue among all peoples of different races, cultures, and religions.5- Implementing the UAE's Principle of the 50: In 2021, the UAE announced ‘Principles of the 50’ (2021-2071), which is the country's vision for the next five decades. It is based on 10 articles, including the following: "The Emirates’ foreign policy is a tool that aims to serve our higher national goals, the most important of which is the Emirates’ economic interests. The goal of our political approach is to serve the economy. And the goal of the economy is to provide a better life for the people of the Union." Enhancing political and economic cooperation between the UAE and Indonesia is a direct application of the principles of this strategy that defines the UAE's regional and international role over the coming decades, and will also work to open up horizons for cooperation between Abu Dhabi and the countries of Southeast Asia and ASEAN, to which Indonesia is linked. The two countries are also keen to seek to consolidate regional and international peace and stability and to rely on dialogue and negotiation to resolve international disputes, which is the essence of the UAE's foreign policy. In conclusion, the visit of the Indonesian President to the UAE has created momentum in relations between both countries and has enhanced the future prospects for cooperation between them. It also confirms Abu Dhabi’s keenness to diversify its strategic partnerships in order to implement the country’s vision for the next five decades, which will enhance its regional position. Abu Dhabi can also act as a bridge for communication between the ASEAN countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council to enhance political consensus and economic cooperation between them, which will benefit all parties and will contribute to addressing current regional and international issues.

Understanding the Dimensions of Strategic Relations between the UAE, Indonesia