Less than six months have passed since the results of the presidential elections in Indonesia were announced. Meanwhile, Anglo-Saxon countries are already putting pressure on the new president. Can the largest Southeast Asian country withstand the pressure from the United States and avoid becoming a Western pawn?

The US attitude towards the results of the Indonesian presidential election

The Indonesian presidential election held on February 14, 2024 didn’t help the US gain geopolitical control over Indonesia. Indonesia hasn’t turned into a country that can be manipulated by Washington. During Joko Widodo’s 10-year rule, he tried to free himself from Washington’s influence and, despite the pressure, focused mainly on his country’s national interests when making political decisions. So, the US administration has been struggling to stay out of the game.

“Jakarta’s approach fueled Washington’s desire to meddle; however the US bet on its protégé failed”

Jakarta refused to support Israel in its aggression against Palestine in the Gaza Strip and did not join in imposing economic sanctions on Russia after it launched a war in Ukraine, which was not approved by the United States. Jakarta’s approach fueled Washington’s desire to meddle; however the US bet on its protege – the governor of Jakarta, former........

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