JAKARTA INDONESIA (ISL News) - The 2026 Annual Press Statement Speech of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (PPTM) held at the Nusantara Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, Wednesday, January 14, 2026, attracted attention.
The reason is that Foreign Minister Sugiono's lengthy speech did not touch on the maritime sector, which is the lifeblood of Indonesia's geopolitics and geoeconomics as the largest archipelagic country in the world.
This was conveyed by the Executive Director of the National Maritime Institute (Namarin) Siswanto Rusdi some time ago.
According to Siswanto, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be the commander in overseeing Indonesia's maritime diplomacy, which will be related to economics, politics, and defense and security.
"The 2026 PPTM doesn't mention maritime issues, even though they are crucial in addressing global geopolitical and geoeconomic uncertainty. We need strong maritime diplomacy, but what can we do when the Foreign Minister doesn't mention it at all," Siswanto said.
He also commented on Prabowo-Gibran's Asta Cita, which also failed to address maritime aspects. Siswanto continued, explaining that it only addressed the blue economy, which is a small area within the maritime sector.
"So it's not surprising that maritime issues have disappeared from diplomatic activities, even though the spirit of Indonesia's diplomatic glory lies here," he stressed.
This maritime observer, known for his critical nature, then highlighted the future of the maritime industry, which is certain to be bleak if not supported by competent maritime diplomacy.
"The existence of the national maritime industry, such as ports, shipping, and others, will increasingly escape international attention, due to the government's weak attention," he concluded.
(ISLNews Editorial Team/email:redaksiislnewstv@gmai.com).
