Podcasts

Our Research Coordinator and Manager, Anastasia Febiola S., discussed Indonesia’s diplomatic stance amidst rising global nuclear tensions and the growing threat posed by emerging technologies, particularly hypersonic weapons and unmanned platforms. She highlighted Indonesia’s consistent push for nuclear disarmament, including its recent call for new nuclear-weapon-free zones at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

Caka Alverdi Awal addressed the ongoing challenges of nuclear proliferation, highlighting how advancements in technology have made nuclear weapons smaller yet more dangerous. He also pointed out the institutional weaknesses in global disarmament efforts, particularly the fact that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has yet to enter into force due to the lack of ratification by nuclear-armed states.

Vitto Tahar highlighted Indonesia’s leadership in promoting regional peace through the South-East Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) and the Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) under the ASEAN framework. He pointed out that recent security agreements among major powers—such as the US, UK, and Australia—pose serious challenges to these initiatives, potentially fueling an arms race in the Indo-Pacific.

AFM Stefanus Arief Hardoyo explored the enduring risks posed by nuclear retaliation doctrines, such as massive retaliation, which emerged during the Cold War and continue to shape strategic thinking today. While he acknowledged that the probability of nuclear war remains low, he warned of the growing threat posed by non-state actors who operate outside international norms. M. Hardoyo also addressed Indonesia’s looming energy challenges, noting that as fossil fuel reserves dwindle—projected by 2034—the country may need to increasingly rely on nuclear energy due to limited progress in renewable alternatives.

Rizal Darma Putra discussed the global challenges of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), particularly the threat posed by advanced ballistic missile systems and the critical role of international treaties like the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). He emphasised Indonesia’s firm stance on nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as reaffirmed by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono, during the recent Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

Iqbal Bagus Alfiansyah discussed the growing risks posed by countries withdrawing from nuclear treaties, citing North Korea’s exit from the NPT in 2003 and Russia’s suspension of the New START treaty as dangerous precedents. He emphasised the importance of Indonesia taking a principled stance in upholding international law and nuclear non-proliferation, especially in light of Pyongyang’s ongoing nuclear developments that threaten Indo-Pacific stability.