The case for strengthening Indonesia-Oman ties
The case for strengthening Indonesia-Oman ties
WRITTEN BY MUHAMMAD ZULFIKAR RAKHMAT AND M. HABIB PASHYA
20 August 2020
Tensions between China and the US have steadily intensified following the closure of Beijing's Houston consulate, followed swiftly by a response that saw the US office in Chengdu also forced to close. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sino-American ties have deteriorated to their lowest point in three decades, with Washington and Beijing making repeated accusations toward each other regarding the virus's origin, an alleged cover-up and its global spread.
More than any other region, Southeast Asia has been significantly impacted by the pandemic, both politically and economically and Indonesia, as an ASEAN member state, is no exception. China’s increasing aggression in the South China Sea and Washington's decision to respond to these moves through a growing naval presence, means Indonesia, in particular, risks being caught between two great powers increasingly at odds.
While Indonesia is eager to maintain access to Chinese markets and investment (especially infrastructure) Beijing’s expansion in the South China Sea threatens its sovereignty. Added to this are the increasing levels of anti-Chinese sentiment in the country, itself a legacy of Indonesia’s recent past, which is now influencing popular opinion within the archipelago on the South China Sea.
Anti-China sentiment has been growing in some ASEAN countries due to the worry over an evermore assertive China. At the same time, while Jakarta wants to benefit from the protection of the US Indo-Pacific Command, concerns have emerged about Washington’s long term commitment to security in the region.
The recent tension between the US and China should encourage Indonesia, to reconsider its ties with the two great powers and try to lessen its overall reliance on them by looking to strengthen political and security ties with non-traditional partners.
Oman, a tiny nation in the Persian Gulf, could be one option.
Oman as a potential partner
Although relatively limited, Indonesia and Oman are now seeing increased levels of political and security cooperation. Since the opening of diplomatic relations in 1978, ties have mainly revolved around politics and security.
Cooperation between Jakarta and Muscat has included significant information exchange relating to deradicalisation programmes between Indonesia’s National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), and Oman’s Counter-Terrorism Committee.
Ties between Jakarta and Muscat are informed to some extent by various multilateral and organisational frameworks, including the GCC-ASEAN channel (which Oman, given its idiosyncratic and highly-personalised diplomatic approach under Sultan Qaboos, helped establish in 1990), the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) — among others.
One particular aspect which dominates Indonesia-Oman relations is the issue of counter-terrorism cooperation, which the two countries have made confronting a priority, since the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
Cooperation between Jakarta and Muscat has included significant information exchange relating to deradicalisation programmes between Indonesia’s National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), and Oman’s Counter-Terrorism Committee. Through these programs, they have sought to share experiences and knowledge in preventing terrorism and radicalism, especially with the growing penetration of the Islamic State in both countries, and in rehabilitating foreign fighters returning from Syria.
The programs have resulted in several initiatives, including the strengthening and coordination between the central and local governments and even community institutions on rehabilitation, reintegration, and re-education as a form of counter-extremism.
Common problems
Indonesia sees Oman as a country that has extensive experience in dealing with Islamist terrorism. Muscat has asserted that its ties with Indonesia on this issue remains a priority as the two countries suffer from increasing levels of penetration by jihadist organisations such as the Islamic State.
"Oman has extensive experiences on the issue of counter-terrorism. Oman is the destination country for the rehabilitation of former detainees at Guantanamo. Of course, that is an extraordinary thing", said Suhardi Alius, Head of Indonesia’s National Counter-Terrorism Agency during his meeting with the Oman Counter-Terrorism Committee in early 2019. Although to date Jakarta-Muscat political and security cooperation remains limited, there are several reasons for both Indonesia and Oman to strengthen their cooperation.
First, Oman could serve as a gateway for Indonesia to strengthen political and security cooperation with other countries in the Persian Gulf and the wider Middle East. Second, political and security cooperation could be expanded into other areas such as drug smuggling and human trafficking where Indonesia and Oman have shared similar experiences. In a recent case, two Indonesian nationals captured by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea were later brought to Oman for medical treatment highlighting the value of Indonesia and Oman pursuing an anti-piracy agreement.
New ties — not without issues
There may also be value in extending ties to include the cyber-security space. Oman and Indonesia have been the chair and deputy chair (respectively) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation - Computer Emergency Response Team (OIC-CERT), an OIC’s cooperation forum dedicated to cyber-security. These new areas for potential cooperation could be facilitated by a visa-free agreement between Jakarta and Muscat (for holders of diplomatic, official and special passports) which would allow for increasingly valuable exchanges between officials and diplomats.
The relationship, however, clearly faces stumbling blocks, in particular the opening of diplomatic ties between the UAE and Israel, which Oman supports. Indonesia, which remains in support of Palestinian independence would likely tread a cautious path should Oman decide to follow the UAE’s decision to recognise Israel.
Of course, while Oman is not in any way going to replace the great powers as a major political or security partner it could become one of the many alternative partners that Indonesia embraces in order to reduce its dependency on China and the United States.
DISCLAIMER: All views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of the 9DASHLINE.com platform.
Author biography
Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat is currently a lecturer at the Universitas Islam Indonesia. His research and teaching focuses on the politics of international cooperation, with specific interest in China-Indonesia-Middle East relations.
M. Habib Pashya is currently a student majoring in International Relations at the Universitas Islam Indonesia. Image credit: Ahmad Syauki/Flickr.