Academia
As global superpowers clash and fracture the international order, Indonesia has a rare opportunity to unite rising middle powers and forge a new center of gravity in world diplomacy.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa (left) talks with an advisor next to President Prabowo Subianto during a plenary session of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 7, 2025. (AFP/Pablo Porciuncula)
Today’s geopolitical landscape is experiencing a distinct "middle power moment". Defined by the growing fragmentation of the global order, this shift offers mid-tier states unprecedented opportunities to leverage their strategic weight.Amid this restructuring, a fresh effort is emerging to build a cohesive coalition of middle powers. For Indonesia, this initiative presents both a profound opportunity and a test, placing Jakarta in a unique position to help organize and direct this emerging diplomatic movement.
Recent momentum reflects a growing appetite for intermediate leadership. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has championed a diplomatic pivot aimed at galvanizing mid-sized states, a vision echoed by Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Similarly, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for greater unity among intermediate powers to reshape the current global framework.
