In addition, the validation and credibility of East-Timor as a developing country has not been guaranteed economic and political stability. This seems to raise the assumption that what Indonesia is doing is only a moral obligation as a fellow member of ASEAN which can be said that Indonesia strategy is not based on a strong reason. Indonesia’s decision to establish economic cooperation with EastTimor will indirectly bring inevitable consequences in the future.
The consequences that can occur include that Indonesia must have better and more stable economic and political conditions. The gap between Indonesia and East-Timor is quite significant so that it cannot be blamed if in reality Indonesia contributes more to help build and boost the economy of East-Timor later. Apart from that, the reputation of Timor-Leste which is not yet as strong as other ASEAN countries economically and politically is also a separate dilemma for Indonesia as chairman of the chairmanship in terms of making East-Timor equal to other ASEAN countries so as not to widen the gaps that exist between ASEAN countries.
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Bilateral economic cooperation between Indonesia and East-Timor does provide a glimmer of idealism for Indonesia’s economic strategy in the midst of its role as chairman of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2023. However, it needs to be emphasized that Indonesia’s strategy cannot be considered ideal overall in this regard. Opening up the seriousness of bilateral economic cooperation is a big step that needs to be considered, especially for the consequences and dilemmas of the challenges that will occur. Indonesia needs to be prepared economically and politically to face other possibilities that arise as new problems amid its position as chairman of ASEAN 2023. (Amaraduhita L. Prabhaswari)