ZUBAIR QURESHI
Executive Director of the Institute of Defence& Security Studies, Indonesia, Dr. Connie Rahakundini Bakrie while highlighting the role and importance of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has said the NAM is now the largest grouping of states worldwide after the United Nations (UN).
She was speaking at the ongoing international Online Internship Programme (OIP) co-organized by the Indonesian Embassy and the Bahria University She shared her insight with the participants on the topic “Indonesia & Non-Aligned Movement: is it still relevant in today’s global politics?” However, she admitted with hanging global politics, NAM’s relevance has been widely debated. The importance of NAM as a political power in the current international scenario is being frequently questioned, she said.
The speaker highlighted the significant transition in global geopolitics following the collapse of communism in the USSR and Eastern Europe, which was supposed to end the cold war. She emphasized the ongoing Cold War, which is increasingly becoming ultra-cold Commenting on the situation between Russia and Ukraine she stated that “the Cold War is still present and becoming increasingly ultra-cold”.
In the context of NAM Jakarta conference in 1992, she stressed that despite the end of the cold war, the NAM struggle must continue. She reminded that in in resolving Russia Ukraine armed conflict, UN Multilateral crisis management has not been successful and the UN agencies were unable to prevent and provide solutions such as peace accords, ceasefires and new appeasements.
Dr. Connie said that in the current global scenario NAM should more proactive role and cited “the NAM ‘RE-NEW’ Declaration that advocates for equality, sovereignty, friendly relations, peaceful resolution of international disputes, opposes force and weapon of mass destruction and aims to protect the entire human race”.
“The Asia Pacific is facing growing geopolitical tensions between China and the US, intensifying competition between the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and Belt and Road initiative, and increasing security threats of cyber-attacks that could disrupt and undermine critical infrastructure” Dr. Connie elaborated. The NAM, central to Indonesia’s foreign policy, focuses on issues such as disarmament, economic development, poverty alleviation, climate change, and establishing a just world order. Indonesia supports NAM’s role in international peace, security, counter terrorism, environmental concerns, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. She concluded that NAM should continue maintain its influence on the world peace and should campaign for a new international and regional economic order based on political and economic equality and continue to contribute its support in strengthening the UN organization.
