As being promoted during his campaign, Joko Widodo (“Jokowi’) has been taking inspiration from the nationalist outlook of Sukarno, especially with Trisakti principle that places importance on national pride in its agenda. In his inauguration speech, related to maritime agenda, Jokowi had also cited Sukarno doctrines of cakrawarti samudra, which calls on all Indonesians to be as strong as a sailor that courageously navigate through the ocean. This principle aims to protect Indonesia’s maritime interests from activities such as illegal fishing from foreign vessels and piracy; and promote maritime connectivity and economic equality between Indonesian provinces. Nevertheless, the strong nationalist stance will not prevent Jokowi from projecting Indonesia activism in the Pacific and Indian Ocean. Several priorities have been set particularly on foreign policy area: increasing activism in solving border disputes in the region, expansion of middle power diplomacy, and building up the Indo-Pacific regional architecture. Under these priorities, maritime will be one of the primary agendas being advanced.

Indonesia as Maritime Nation

The identity as maritime nation has been engraved in Indonesian mindset since the era of Srivijaya Kingdom in the 7th century. Sea symbolized power and the King of Srivijaya was believed in possessing power to communicate with the sea. Geographically, Indonesia is the largest archipelagic state with total area of 1,904,569 sq km, consists of 18.108 islands, and two third of her area is water with abundant natural resources. Indonesia has the second longest coastline, accounting for 14 percent of world coastline. Indonesia is located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean; and hosting three major choke points of the Indian Ocean: the Strait of Malacca, the Sunda Strait, and the Lombok Strait. The sea-lanes have high degree of importance for the world, which accounting for half of the world's oil, one-third of the world's shipping and 2,500 LNG/LPG tankers passing through Malacca and Singapore Straits. According to former Vice President Boediono estimations in 2013, Indonesia has about Rp 3,000 trillion (US$249 billion) per year of maritime potentials from various sectors such as in nautical transportation, the maritime industry, fisheries, ocean tourism, energy and mineral resources, maritime infrastructure and maritime services. However, Indonesia has yet to tap her maritime potentials as the development paradigm was still focused on land. Thus, it is not unfair for Jokowi to put forward maritime nation as Indonesia’s identity.

Several symbolic gestures reinforced the primacy of maritime in Jokowi’s agenda, such as the announcement of his presidential election victory in the Phinisi ship in the Sunda strait. His inauguration speech also reemphasized the importance of maritime agenda in his vision. This vision has both domestic and international elements that include broad range strategy such as economy, defence diplomacy, and norm building. Domestically, Jokowi seeks to foster connectivity within Indonesia through developing Ocean “toll road” that aims to reduce the cost of transporting goods all over Indonesia. He has appointed Indroyono Susilo, former fisheries management director at the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), as the new Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister that will coordinate four other Ministries: the transportation ministry, the energy and natural resources ministry, the tourism ministry, and the maritime affairs and fisheries ministry. Susilo will also coordinate a number of governmental non-ministerial institutions related to maritime affairs.

Externally, he would like to strategically locate Indonesia as the global maritime nexus. The agenda envisions greater connectivity between Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. The idea follow the logic of strategy adopted by the Srivijaya, which was able to put her as the center of international trade, where every trade between the Eastern Asia and the Western Asia passed through the sea ports of Srivijaya. Similarly, current administration aims to promote Indonesia as the pivotal country promoting the stability in both oceans; thus, Indonesia will be able to reap political and economic benefits. This strategy is in line with Jokowi’s reinterpretation of Trisakti principle that envisions greater Indonesia regional activism, yet still maintains nationalist vision to down-stream wealth to Indonesian people.