29. Jul 2022 / 26 min

Indonesia’s Response to the War in Ukraine

A conversation with Radityo Dharmaputra. Hosted by Saskia Lilli Lehtsalu.

With the upcoming G20 summit this November, all eyes should be on Indonesia – the fourth largest country in the world and current holder of G20 presidency. How has Indonesia reacted so far to the war in Ukraine? Why are so many Indonesians sympathetic to Russia, despite Indonesia’s historical tendency to favour the underdog in international disputes? What does all this have to do with the price of instant noodles in Jakarta? And why exactly have some people suggested that Indonesian president Joko Widodo might be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize?

In this episode, Saskia Lilli Lehtsalu, an intern at University of Tartu Asia Center, takes a look at Indonesian perspectives on the war in Ukraine together with Radityo Dharmaputra. Radiyo is a junior research fellow in Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies at the University of Tartu, Estonia and a lector in international relations at Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia.

Radityo has written a number of commentaries about Indonesian perspectives on the Ukraine war, which can be accessed through the links below:

Why do so many Indonesians back Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
Why many Indonesian experts are pro-Russia and ignoring Ukraine’s perspective
How will Indonesia deal with Russia and Ukraine at the G20?

Jokowi’s visits to Russia and -Ukraine are more about domestic gains than the global interest

podcast icon

Other Nordic Asia Podcasts

All podcasts
8. Jul 2022 / 30 min

Finnish Maritime Interaction with China in the 18th Century

A discussion with Erja Kettunen-Matilainen. Hosted by Ari-Joonas Pitkänen.

As COVID-19 disrupted maritime trade with China, the world was again reminded of the importance of shipping in global commerce. The roots of Nordic maritime trade relations with Asia go back centuries, and this history reveals interesting details about early Finnish interaction with China. For example, the Swedish East India Company’s 18th century trade voyages produced […]

Go listen
24. Jun 2022 / 31 min

Japan’s Reaction to Russia’s War in Ukraine

A conversation with Kamila Szczepanska and Silja Keva. Hosted by Ari-Joonas Pitkänen.

Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has dramatically affected international politics, and the effects are also felt in East Asia. We have heard a lot about China’s position regarding the war, but the situation has also affected security and defense calculations in Japan, one of the key allies of the West in Asia. How did Japan react […]

Go listen