Postcolonialism and Indonesian Maritime Diplomacy: Reinterpreting the Ambalat Dispute Toward Institutional Reform and Regional Solidarity in Southeast Asia

Muhammad Alfian Maulana

doi:10.31957/pjdir.v6i1.5120

Authors

Muhammad Alfian Maulana UNIVERSITAS UDAYANA

Abstract

This study examines Indonesia’s diplomatic strategy in the Ambalat maritime dispute with Malaysia under the post-2024 Prabowo administration. Using Postcolonial International Relations theory and Le Mière’s Cooperative Maritime Diplomacy framework, it analyzes how colonial legacies are reframed as strategic resources. Through critical discourse analysis of speeches, bilateral statements, and ASEAN engagements (October 2024–2025), the study identifies three dimensions. First, the narrative dimension repositions Malaysia as a shared inheritor of colonial borders rather than an adversary. Second, the practical dimension institutionalizes this narrative through joint development mechanisms separating resource management from sovereignty disputes. Third, the institutional dimension expands this approach into ASEAN maritime governance discourse. The study argues that postcolonial identity operates as active diplomatic agency, conceptualized as postcolonial maritime diplomacy.

KEYWORDS
Indonesian Maritime Diplomacy; Institutional Reform; Postcolonialism; Regional Cooperation

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Acharya, A. (2009). Constructing a Security Community in Southeast Asia: ASEAN and the Problem of Regional Order. Routledge. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=tM7y0zMMDy4C

Andelova, P. (2017). Boundaries and Frontiers in Southeast Asia: Fences Have Made Fretful Neighbors (pp. 21–45). Brill. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004312180_003

Anghie, A. (2006). The Evolution of International Law: Colonial and Postcolonial Realities. Third World Quarterly, 27(5), 739–753. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4017775

Anugrahanto, N. C. (2025, June 27). Portrait of Close Relations between Indonesia and Malaysia from the Closeness of Prabowo and Anwar. Kompas.id. https://www.kompas.id/artikel/en-kunjungi-indonesia-pm-malaysia-anwar-ibrahim-dijemput-presiden-prabowo

Ashcroft, B., Griffiths, G., & Tiffin, H. (2024). The Post-colonial Studies Reader 3rd Edition. Routledge.

Aziz, M. F. (2018). Developing Joint Development Zone in Disputed Maritime Boundaries. Indonesian Journal of International Law, 15(4), 432–448. https://doi.org/10.17304/ijil.vol15.4.735

Basyari, I. (2025). Indonesia Pushes ASEAN to be More Adaptive. Kompas. https://www.kompas.id/artikel/en-indonesia-dorong-asean-lebih-adaptif

Benjarongkapan, K., & Priaoprasit, N. (2025). The Management of Maritime Boundary Dispute Between Thailand and Cambodia: The Considerations of International Law and Politics. Nitiparitat Journal, 5(3), 59–95. https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/NitiPariJ/article/view/287589

Bhabha, H. K. (2004). The Location of Culture. Routledge. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=p7quDTSmYRYC

Bhambra, G. K. (2014). Postcolonial and decolonial dialogues. Postcolonial Studies, 17(2), 115–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/13688790.2014.966414

Bindenagel, J. D. (2016). Pacific Community for Peace and Governance: Towards a Framework for Peace and Security in the Pacific BT - Power Politics in Asia’s Contested Waters: Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea (E. Fels & T.-M. Vu (eds.); pp. 509–521). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26152-2_24

BPMI Setpres. (2025, October 26). Presiden Prabowo: Persatuan dan Sentralitas ASEAN Kunci Stabilitas Kawasan. https://presidenri.go.id/siaran-pers/presiden-prabowo-persatuan-dan-sentralitas-asean-kunci-stabilitas-kawasan/

Bustami, R., & Maksum, A. (2022). The Domestic Politics and Indonesia's Tension with Malaysia on The Ambalat Case. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial: Volume 21, Issue 2, Year 2022. https://doi.org/10.14710/Jis.21.2.2022.98-125 https://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/ilmusos/article/view/49363

Carruthers, A. (2023). Specters of Excess: Passing and Policing in the Malay-Speaking Archipelago. Journal of Linguistic Anthropology, 33, 131-160. https://doi.org/10.1111.jola.12398

Druce, S.C. & Baikoeni, E.Y. (2016). Circumventing Conflict: The Indonesia–Malaysia Ambalat Block Dispute. In: Oishi, M. (eds) Contemporary Conflicts in Southeast Asia. Asia in Transition, vol 3. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0042-3_7

Finnemore, M., & Sikkink, K. (1998). International Norm Dynamics and Political Change. International Organization, 52(4), 887–917. https://doi.org/10.1162/002081898550789

Hadi, S. (2014). The Dispute of Ambalat In The Perspective of Indonesian Foreign Policy In The Post-New Order Era. Indonesian Journal of International Law, 12(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.17304/ijil.vol12.1.589

Hakim, F. N., Mayasari., & Abidin, Z. (2025). Indonesia's Global Maritime Fulcrum Vision and Regional Security in Indo-Pacific. Papua Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations, 5(1), 50-64. DOI: 10.31957/pjdir.v5i1.4309

Harefa, J., Akbar, M., Asto, A., & Ibrahim, M. (2024). Legacy of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty 1824: Tracing its Impacts on the Present Time Indonesia and Malaysia’s Society and Legal Systems. Neoclassical Legal Review: Journal of Law and Contemporary Issues, 3, 28–39. https://doi.org/10.32734/nlr.v3i1.15583

Hunter, M. (2025, September 8). Indonesia’s position on the Ambalat dispute: A study in Sovereignty, Diplomacy, and Resource Management – analysis. Murray Hunter. https://murrayhunter.substack.com/p/indonesias-position-on-the-ambalat

Jusoh, S., Abd Razak, M. F., & Mohd Yusof, A. R. (2023). Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Agreement. Chinese Journal of International Law, 22(1), 167–176. https://doi.org/10.1093/chinesejil/jmad014

Kamil, I., & Ramadhan, A. (2025). Prabowo: Kita Mau Ditabrakkan dengan Malaysia? Kita Sahabat, Satu Rumpun. Kompas. https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/08/15/11420931/prabowo-kita-mau-ditabrakkan-dengan-malaysia-kita-sahabat-satu-rumpun

Kementerian Luar Negeri RI. (2026). Menlu Sugiono: ASEAN Harus Kuat dan Bersatu dalam Menavigasi Masa Depan Bersama. https://kemlu.go.id/berita/berita/menlu-sugiono-asean-harus-kuat-dan-bersatu-dalam-menavigasi-masa-depan-bersama?type=publication

Koldunova, E. (2018). Which “ASEAN Way” Forward?: Southeast Asian Perspectives on Peace and Institutions BT - The Palgrave Handbook of Global Approaches to Peace (A. Kulnazarova & V. Popovski (eds.); pp. 347–366). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78905-7_17

Le Miere, C. (2014). Maritime Diplomacy in the 21st Century: Drivers and Challenges (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203555590

Lukito, L. binti, & Saat, I. (2023). The Implications of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 on the Demarcation and Economy of Sebatik Island. Melayu: Jurnal Antarabangsa Dunia Melayu; Vol 16 No 2. https://doi.org/10.37052/Jm.16(2)No4 . http://jurnal.dbp.my/index.php/Melayu/article/view/8708

Mawangi, G. T. (2025, April 12). Prabowo ungkap strateginya kelola ketegangan di Laut China Selatan. Antara News. https://www.antaranews.com/berita/4766213/prabowo-ungkap-strateginya-kelola-ketegangan-di-laut-china-selatan

Ndlovu-Gatsheni, S. (2018). Epistemic Freedom in Africa Deprovincialization and Decolonization. Routledge.

Nuruzzaman, F. (2025). Blok Ambalat Antara Sengketa dan Peluang Kerja Sama Ekonomi. JMBI UNSRAT (Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Bisnis Dan Inovasi Universitas Sam Ratulangi)., 12(1 SE-Articles), 27–41. https://doi.org/10.35794/jmbi.v12i1.59736

Octaviana, S.F.(2026, January 30). ASEAN aims to complete South China Sea CoC by 2026. Antara News. https://en.antaranews.com/news/402286/asean-aims-to-complete-south-china-sea-coc-by-2026

Rahayu, K. Y. (2025, August 7). RI Berkomitmen Selesaikan Perbatasan Ambalat secara Damai. https://www.kompas.id/artikel/ri-berkomitmen-selesaikan-perbatasan-ambalat-secara-damai

Rijal, N. K. (2019). Smart Maritime Diplomacy: Diplomasi Maritim Indonesia Menuju Poros Maritim Dunia. Global Strategis, 13(1 SE-Jurnal Global & Strategis 13.1 2019), 63–78. https://doi.org/10.20473/jgs.13.1.2019.63-78

Rinardi, H., Hasanah, M. A., & Sulistiyono, S. T. (2024). Indonesia-Australia Timor Gap Agreement: A Pseudo Political Victory or Territorial Contest Defeat. Journal of Maritime Studies and National Integration; Vol 7, No 1. https://doi.org/.14710/Jmsni.V7i1.22785 https://ejournal2.undip.ac.id/index.php/jmsni/article/view/22785

Rutazibwa, O. U. (2016). From the Everyday to IR: In Defence of the Strategic Use of the R-word. Postcolonial Studies, 19(2), 191–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/13688790.2016.1254016

Safira, M. & Adam, M. (2022). Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.34189.76008

Said, E. W. (1978). Orientalism. Pantheon Books. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=dVpxAAAAMAAJ

Sekretariat Presiden Republik Indonesia. (2025). Presiden Prabowo dan PM Anwar sepakat tuntaskan isu perbatasan, dorong kolaborasi kawasan. https://presidenri.go.id/siaran-pers/presiden-prabowo-dan-pm-anwar-sepakat-tuntaskan-isu-perbatasan-dorong-kolaborasi-kawasan/

Setiawan, A. (2024). Indonesia’s Maritime Diplomacy under Joko Widodo Administration: Advancing the Global Maritime Fulcrum Vision. Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Sains, 5. https://doi.org/10.59141/jiss.v5i12.1519

Sinaga, T. M. (2026, January 19). Masa Depan ASEAN Bergantung pada Stabilitas Kawasan. Kompas. https://www.kompas.id/artikel/masa-depan-asean-bergantung-pada-stabilitas-kawasan

Solomon, R. L. (1970). Boundary Concepts and Practices in Southeast Asia. World Politics, 23(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.2307/2009628

Spivak, G. C. (1988). Can the Subaltern Speak? BT - Marxism and Interpretation of Culture (pp. 271–313). University of Illinois Press.

Subianto, P. (2025). Pidato kenegaraan Presiden RI pada sidang tahunan MPR RI, sidang bersama DPR–DPD RI. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G87hI-UcTPY

Supancana, I. (2015). Maritime Boundary Disputes between Indonesia and Malaysia in the Area of Ambalat Block: Some Optional Scenarios for Peaceful Settlement. Journal of East Asia and International Law, 8, 195. https://doi.org/10.14330/jeail.2015.8.1.09

Wendt, A. (1999). Social Theory of International Politics. Cambridge University Press.

Yadav, A. S. (2025). Indonesia’s Foreign Policy under Prabowo: A Shift Toward Strategic Assertiveness. Verity: Jurnal Ilmiah Hubungan Internasional (International Relations Journal), 17(33), 15-30.