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ISSN 2744-1741 
Defense and Security Studies  Original Research 
Vol. 4, January 2023, pp.23-28 
https://doi.org/10.37868/dss.v3.id228 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) that allows others 
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authorship and initial publication in this journal. 
 23 

 
 
Indonesia's role in the G20 presidency during the conflict between 
Russia and Ukraine 
 
Ria Purwati1*, Hikmat Zakky Almubaroq2, Edy Saptono3 
1,2,3 Republic of Indonesia Defense University, Faculty of Defense Management, Indonesia 
 

*Corresponding author E-mail:  riapurwa21@gmail.com

Received Jan. 13, 2023 
Revised Jan. 31, 2023 
Accepted Feb. 1, 2023 

Abstract 
Indonesia was appointed as the G20 presidency holder at the 2020 Riyadh 
Summit and handed over from Italy on October 31, 2021 in Rome, Italy. Along 
with the G20 Presidency activities in Indonesia, the conflict between Russia - 
Ukraine heated up again in early February 2022 after the Russian fighter fleet 
attacked the Ukrainian border, precisely in Belarus. Various impacts were felt by 
countries around Russia-Ukraine including Indonesia. Indonesia as the holder of 
the G20 Presidency in 2022 must take a stand against Russia invading Ukraine. 
This paper uses qualitative research methods, data collection techniques in this 
paper are based on internet-based research. The Indonesian government as the 
G20 Presidency has also conducted political, legal and security negotiations that 
not only talk about the issue of war that occurred between Russia and Ukraine in 
early 2022 but also bring the main issue of the economy. Indonesia's duty 
according to the constitution is to encourage that world issues can still be 
resolved in the G20 forum. Indonesia's stance in realizing world peace is 
enshrined in the Preamble of the 1945 Constitution. In an effort to create world 
peace, Indonesia is considered to still have to prioritize wise steps. 

© The Author 2023. 
Published by ARDA. Keywords: Presidency, G20, Indonesia, Russia, Ukraine  

1. Introduction 
The global financial crisis in 2007 has created a negative impact on both developed and developing countries. 
The global financial crisis occurred due to a lack of international coordination that was responsive to the crisis 
and unaccountable financial sector regulations (excessive risk taking). The global financial crisis caused 
developed countries to experience a downturn in their financial sector and impacted the real sector, while 
developing countries were affected in the field of trade and foreign investment. So the idea of the G-20 
Leaders Meeting group was formed to organize a G20 Summit for the leaders or heads of state of the G20 
group in Washington DC on November 15, 2008 [1]. 

G20 members began coordinating joint action through an assessment process that identified common goals for 
the global economy, the policies needed to achieve them, and progress toward meeting those common goals. 
The fact that GDP per capita in G20 countries is on a lower growth path than before the global financial crisis 
is a major concern for the G20. Nonetheless, employment levels have risen to almost pre-crisis levels. 

The G20 is a multilateral cooperation forum consisting of 19 major countries and the European Union that 
have middle to high income classes, developing countries to developed countries. G20 members consist of 
countries from various regions in the world including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, 
United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China, Japan, South 
Korea, India, Indonesia, Australia and the European Union. The G20 has no permanent leader or chairman, 
while the presidency function is held by one of the members for one year [2]. 



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24 

Indonesia was confirmed as the G20 presidency holder at the 2020 Riyadh Summit and handed over from 
Italy on October 31, 2021 in Rome, Italy. Indonesia's G20 Presidency officially begins on December 1, 2021 
until the next presidency handover at the Summit at the end of 2022. G20 Indonesia consists of various 
meetings that will be held in several cities in Indonesia. About 19 cities besides Bali will be involved such as 
Jakarta, Bogor, Semarang, Solo, Batam - Bintan, Medan, Yogyakarta, Bandung, Sorong, Lombok, Surabaya, 
Labuan Bajo, Lake Toba, Manado, Malang and others. 

The G20 Presidency in 2022 was the first time for Indonesia to join the G20 since the international forum was 
established in 1999. At that time, Indonesia was recovering from the 1997-1998 economic crisis and was 
considered an emerging economy with enormous economic size and potential in the Asian region. Indonesia 
was the only ASEAN and G20 member that played an important role in the recovery of the world's health and 
economy. 

The 2022 G20 Presidency in Indonesia could be the right momentum for the Indonesian government to reset 
its focus on the long-term development agenda and to realign the post-Covid-19 recovery agenda. Indonesia 
has the opportunity to lead the G20 Presidency in harmonizing several global and regional issues. The priority 
issues discussed at the G20 Presidency are understanding the challenges and the need for collective action so 
that Indonesia will focus on three main pillars at the 2022 G20 Presidency namely the global health 
architecture, sustainable energy transition and digital and economic transformation. 

Along with the G20 Presidency activities in Indonesia, the conflict between Russia - Ukraine heated up again 
in early February 2022 after the Russian combat fleet attacked the Ukrainian border, precisely in Belarus. The 
Russian troops sent to Ukraine are estimated to be in large numbers and can be used as a force to invade 
Ukraine. This was the cause of the escalation of tensions between Russia-Ukraine after Russia had previously 
been angry at Ukraine for having good relations with NATO countries [3]. 

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has created a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and threatened the stability of 
geopolitical relations. The war has added to growing concerns of slowing global growth, rising inflation and 
debt, and a surge in poverty. The main impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the world economy is rising 
energy prices and declining confidence in global financial markets, coupled with massive international 
sanctions against Russia. While Ukraine is not a significant trading partner for any major economy, it is 
Russia that has a large exposure to the EU and the UK. Countries such as China, the United States, Germany, 
France and Italy represent one of Russia's main import partners, with Russian demand accounting for between 
1.3-7 % of its GDP [4]. 

Various impacts are felt by countries around Russia-Ukraine including Indonesia. Indonesia as the holder of 
the G20 Presidency in 2022 must take a stand against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The geopolitical condition 
caused by the Russia-Ukraine war is one of the risks faced by the Indonesian G20 Presidency in 2022. The 
G20, which was established as a forum for global economic cooperation, is overshadowed by the Russia-
Ukraine conflict. According to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, the conflict is a challenge that threatens the 
values of the G20. For Indonesia, managing a meeting in the midst of conflict is a challenge in itself because 
the Indonesian G20 Presidency must continue to run according to the agenda of strategic discussions that not 
only concern Indonesia but also the world [5]. 

There is a sad history in the world economy when there was a monetary crisis that struck from 1997 to 1999. 
The monetary crisis that occurred led to a movement formed by finance ministers from several major 
countries in the world. This was later named the G7 or The Group of Seven. This forum was formed as a 
response to the concerns that plagued the world community as a result of the monetary crisis that occurred at 
that time. In 1997 the monetary crisis spread in the Asian continent, especially Thailand, which experienced a 
decline in the value of the Baht currency. This is because foreign currencies have a minimal nominal amount 
so that Thailand is unable to maintain the value of the Baht currency against the United States Dollar. This 
then made Thailand have a large debt, which resulted in an economic crisis as a result of the decline in the 
value of the currency. 

The development and progress of the world is very much determined by the global commitment in realizing 
developed and developing countries and having a balance in advancing the economy, environment and social. 
This commitment is very important in order to synergize the steps and policies of countries in the world in 
achieving the same goal of prosperity for all. Indonesia's involvement in this matter is very important because 
on several occasions Indonesia has become one of the countries capable of synergizing world welfare and 
peace, one of which is through Indonesia's role in initiating countries that are members of ASEAN. Therefore, 



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25 

it is not impossible that in 2022 Indonesia will be asked to be the G20 Presidency which will automatically 
host the G20 Summit in 2022 [6]. 

In carrying out its duties at the G20 Presidency, Indonesia took part in helping to resolve the conflict between 
Russia and Ukraine. Conflict resolution is a social situation in which the conflicting parties in an armed 
conflict want to make peace and voluntarily choose to coexist and solve the basic causes of the incompatibility 
of the interests of the two parties so that violence can be stopped [7]. Then Galtung [8] defines 2 types of 
peace, namely positive peace and negative peace. Positive peace is peace that creates an atmosphere of 
harmony and harmony between parties who were previously in conflict in social life. Meanwhile, negative 
peace is peace that occurs because of the elimination of things that are seen as negative such as violence, 
hostility and conflict. In conflict resolution efforts, achieving peace can be done through 3 stages, namely: 

1) peacemaking, this stage is the initial stage where peace is sought in conflict resolution. Efforts can be 
made such as negotiations between the two parties and also peace planning. 

2) Peacekeeping, at this stage the parties must discuss how to implement the results of negotiations and 
peace plans that have previously been formulated. 

3) Peacebuilding, at this final stage the parties must rebuild a peaceful atmosphere by restarting 
communication and cooperation and repairing any damage caused by the conflict. 

This article discusses Indonesia's role in the G-20 forum amid the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Not 
only seeing how far Indonesia has contributed, but also how important Indonesia's position is in playing its 
role as a member of the G-20. Indonesia's contribution can be seen from how it responded to the conflict that 
occurred between Russia and Ukraine as a non-aligned country. 

2. Research method  
This paper uses qualitative research methods, which are defined as research tools, techniques, and strategies 
that help writers to collect, interpret and analyze data. Qualitative research is a research that basically uses a 
deductive-inductive approach. This approach departs from a theoretical framework, the ideas of experts, and 
the understanding of researchers based on their experience which is then developed into problems and their 
solutions which are proposed to obtain justification (verification) in the form of empirical data support in the 
report [9]. 

The data collection technique in this paper is based on internet-based research. The data collected in the form 
of official reports and press releases from institutions/agencies are categorized as primary data. Then data 
from mass media, articles and scientific journals that have been published are categorized as secondary data. 
So that the author hopes to provide an in-depth analysis in this paper. 

3. Results and discussion 
Since December 1, 2021 Indonesia has been the G20 Presidency country which lasts throughout 2021-2022. 
The G20 Presidency was attended by 19 heads of state, one EU institution, 20,988 delegates consisting of 429 
delegates at the g20 Summit, 4,581 Ministerial Meetings, 1,212 Sherpa Meetings, 8,330 Working group 
Meetings and 6,436 Engagements Groups Meeting and is a world forum to discuss world economic issues in a 
sestimic manner which represents 60% of the world's population, accounts for 80% of world GDP and 75% of 
world trade [10]. 

The presence of the G20 is in principle an effort to respond to the problems of global issues, one of which is 
the global crisis in 1998 which hit the world including Indonesia. One of the things that was declared 
successful in handling the crisis was the policy taken in 2008 which was then followed up through supervision 
and control of financial problems. The global conditions that occurred in 1998 and 2008 are repeated in 2021-
2022 where there is a crisis due to the Covid-19 Pandemic which has not subsided, including the global 
economic crisis which has not subsided. Therefore, it is necessary to synergize between G20 members in an 
effort to overcome the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic, including Indonesia. 

There are two important things in Indonesia's involvement in the G20 forum, first as a country that seeks to 
match product quality standards in accordance with global consumers. In this case, Indonesia has the 
opportunity to get input related to its products that are exported abroad. Second, Indonesia also gets broad 
market opportunities, technology transfer and open cooperation. Indonesia, which has always been a vital 



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26 

point in maintaining regional stability, will be very important to be involved in the G20 forum. In addition, 
Indonesia's involvement is also supported by the interests of a high bargaining power position, because with 
Indonesia's position in the global forum, Indonesia's decision can be used as a representation of developing 
countries in multilateral forums that discuss trade issues at the WTO, financial issues at the IMF and other 
relevant issues. 

Developing countries generally have economic problems such as high inflation rates and slow economic 
growth. Inflation is an important economic indicator, its growth rate is always sought to be low and stable so 
as not to cause macroeconomic impacts that are feared to have an impact on economic instability. 

The Indonesian government through Joko Widodo stated at the G20 forum that Indonesia is very consistent in 
overcoming problems related to inflation, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic by emphasizing 
consolidation policies with economic diplomacy patterns involving trade, commercial and financial which can 
certainly overcome the inflation problem that occurs. Indonesia's role is very important because it is not only 
limited to theory but real practice related to the Indonesian economy. This means that the Indonesian 
government's political and legal policy at the G20 meeting is to emphasize healthy finance between countries 
and include healthy competition in financial relations. This practice is certainly very important to do so that 
the G20 member countries are not exposed to the brink of recession. 

In another position, the Indonesian government as the G20 Presidency has also conducted political, legal and 
security negotiations that not only talk about the issue of war that occurred between Russia and Ukraine in 
early 2022 but also bring the main issue of the economy. Although the two countries are currently still in 
military conflict, Indonesia has a role to contribute directly in making the two countries maintain economic 
stability because one of the countries in conflict is the largest wheat supplier in the world, Ukraine. This is 
very important to pay attention to so that the need for wheat is not disrupted and does not become one of the 
causes of inflation in both G20 member countries and non-G20 members. 

Since 1986, the grouping of finance ministers in the Group of Seven (G-7) has proved quite important in its 
function as a forum for informal and substantive discussion on international economic issues. One of the 
objectives of the forum is to achieve an understanding and closer coordination among policy makers in the G-
7 countries. On September 25, 1999, in Washington DC, finance ministers from the leading industry group 
Group of Seven (G-7) announced the formation of the Group of Twenty (G20). The basic objective of 
establishing the G20 is to discuss, study and review policy issues among industrialized countries and 
developing countries with the aim of promoting international financial stability [11]. 

G20 leaders meet annually and each G20 president invites several state guests annually. In addition, Ministers 
of Finance and Central Bank Governors meet regularly throughout the year to discuss measures to strengthen 
the global economy, reform international financial institutions, improve financial regulations and implement 
key economic reforms needed in each of the G20 member economies. Underpinning these meetings is a year-
round program of meetings among senior officials and working groups that coordinate policy on specific 
issues. 

In the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, peacemaking and peacekeeping efforts have been carried out 
many times but have not really reached a peaceful and peace positive stage, because the conflict is 
increasingly escalating because the causes of the emergence of the conflict are not really resolved. If this is 
allowed to continue, the conflict will get bigger and could endanger other countries around Russia and 
Ukraine so that peacebuilding efforts are urgently needed so that the two countries can make peace in the long 
term and the conflict does not escalate again. To reach this stage, cooperation and support from other actors 
are needed as mediators from nearby countries such as Turkey, Belarus and our country, Indonesia. 

In this peace process, Indonesia became one of the countries that was considered capable of being a mediator 
and helping to resolve conflicts between Russia and Ukraine because Indonesia already had experience in 
resolving conflicts, one of which was the Cambodia conflict through the Jakarta Informal Meetings in 1988 
and 1989. Indonesia is also a country that neutral to both Russia and Ukraine. 

Indonesia as a country that adheres to the free and active principle in foreign relations confirms its consistency 
with this principle in the crisis between Russia and Ukraine. The Director of Europe II of the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Winardi Hanafi Lucky emphasized that the principle of free and 
active does not mean that it is neutral and active, but also contributes both in the form of ideas and assistance 
for conflict resolution. The attitude taken by Indonesia is not just following other countries, but an effort to 



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27 

voice the importance of respecting international legal norms. Indonesia will also continue to encourage the use 
of force to stop so that all parties can resolve the conflict. 

According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Teuku Faizasyah said that there were four 
points conveyed by the Government of Indonesia regarding its position on Ukraine. First, Indonesia is 
concerned about the escalation of armed conflict in Ukrainian territory which is very dangerous to the safety 
of the people and has an impact on peace in the region. Second, Indonesia emphasized that it complies with 
international law based on the UN Charter regarding the integrity of a country's territory, and condemned any 
actions that threaten the territory and sovereignty of a country. Third, Indonesia reiterated that all parties 
should prioritize negotiations and diplomacy to end conflicts and prioritize peaceful resolution. Fourth, the 
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia has taken steps to save Indonesian citizens in Ukraine according to the 
plan that has been prepared [12]. 

Indonesia made peace efforts by holding meetings with President Zelensky as President of Ukraine and 
President Vladimir Putin as President of Russia to open up space for dialogue between the two as a peace 
effort and encourage an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In addition, Indonesia's role was even 
greater during the Indonesian Presidency at the G20 forum. Indonesia's task according to the constitution is to 
encourage world issues to be resolved in the G20 forum. Indonesia's attitude in realizing world peace has been 
contained in the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution. In an effort to create world peace, Indonesia is considered 
to still have to put forward wise steps. 

4. Conclusions  
Indonesia was confirmed as the G20 presidency holder at the Riyadh Summit 2020 and handed over from 
Italy on October 31, 2021 in Rome, Italy.  The 2022 G20 Presidency in Indonesia could be the right 
momentum for the Indonesian government to reset its focus on the long-term development agenda and to 
realign the post-Covid-19 recovery agenda. Indonesia has the opportunity to lead the G20 Presidency in 
harmonizing several global and regional issues. The priority issues discussed at the G20 Presidency are 
understanding the challenges and the need for collective action so that Indonesia will focus on three main 
pillars in the 2022 G20 Presidency, namely the global health architecture, sustainable energy transition and 
digital and economic transformation.   

Along with the G20 Presidency activities in Indonesia, the conflict between Russia - Ukraine heated up again 
in early February 2022 after the Russian fighter fleet attacked the Ukrainian border, precisely in Belarus. The 
Russia-Ukraine conflict has created a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and threatened the stability of 
geopolitical relations. Various impacts are felt by countries around Russia-Ukraine including Indonesia. 
Indonesia as the holder of the G20 Presidency in 2022 must take a stand against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 
The geopolitical condition caused by the Russia-Ukraine war is one of the risks faced by the Indonesian G20 
Presidency in 2022.  The Indonesian government as the G20 Presidency has also conducted political, legal and 
security negotiations that are not only talking about the issue of war that occurred between Russia and Ukraine 
in early 2022 but also bringing the main issue of the economy. Indonesia's duty according to the constitution 
is to encourage that world issues can still be resolved in the G20 forum. Indonesia's stance in realizing world 
peace is enshrined in the Preamble of the 1945 Constitution. In an effort to create world peace, Indonesia is 
considered to still have to prioritize wise steps. 

Declaration of competing interest  
The authors declare that they have no any known financial or non-financial competing interests in any 
material discussed in this paper. 

Funding information  
No funding was received from any financial organization to conduct this research. 

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2020.  



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