CNS Issue Brief: Indonesia’s Leadership on Nonproliferation

On February 7, 2012, Indonesia deposited its instrument of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) with the United Nations. To commemorate the event, Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa noted that with this action Jakarta showed “its commitment to realize the vision of a world without nuclear weapons.” The CTBT ratification, finalized by the Indonesian parliament in December 2011, was the culmination of over a year of affirmative nonproliferation activities undertaken by Jakarta.  Other leadership activities have included Indonesia's preparations for the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul and its key role in pressing for wider acceptance of the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone.

Stephanie Lieggi examines Jakarta’s nonproliferation and nuclear security policies to-date, and especially its recent positive activities. The brief also discusses challenges to increased cooperation. Lieggi notes:

"Indonesia has traditionally been skeptical about counter-proliferation and export-control related mechanisms such as the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (UNSCR 1540). Indonesia also has limited human capital and technical capacity relevant to nonproliferation and nuclear security. To the degree that international partners, such as the United States and the European Union, provide cooperative assistance projects to develop these assets, they will enhance Jakarta’s ability to play a positive leadership role on these issues in its region and the broader developing world."

Read the full issue brief.