The Indonesian government has officially been re-elected as a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council under Category C for the 2026–2027 period. This success is not merely an administrative achievement, but a strategic step for Indonesia as the world's largest archipelagic state to be more proactive on the global maritime stage.
Assistant Deputy for Multilateral Cooperation at the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, Adi Winarso, emphasized that Indonesia's participation in the IMO executive body reflects vital national political and security interests. According to him, Indonesia's position along strategic international trade routes requires the nation not to merely comply with regulations, but to actively participate as a rule-maker.
As a Category C member, Indonesia is recognized as having special interests in maritime navigation and transport that are crucial to regional stability. The government will utilize the IMO Council forum as a diplomatic platform to ensure the protection of the marine environment while strengthening law enforcement in national waters, which frequently serve as transit routes for international vessels.
Furthermore, Adi stated that the increased vote support in this year's IMO Council election serves as strong political leverage. This aligns with the government's grand vision of establishing Indonesia as a Global Maritime Fulcrum, where the strategic interests of national straits and waters will continue to be championed to maintain security stability and state sovereignty on the high seas.
