The Analysis of Negotiation Indonesia-malaysia Maritime Boundary Agreements in 2023 During Joko Widodo’s Second Term (2019-2024)

Abstract

This study examines the negotiation process of the 2023 Indonesia-Malaysia Maritime Boundary Agreement, which was finalized during President Joko Widodo’s second term. The agreement, which successfully delimited part of territorial waters in the Malacca strait and Sulawesi Sea, is analysed using Robert Putnam’s Two-Level Game theory. This framework helps analyse how international negotiations (Level I) and domestic politics (Level II) interplayed throughout the process. The agreement’s success wasn’t only the product of diplomatic efforts but also Indonesia’s ability to secure strong domestic support through a well-managed distribution of power, preferences, and coalitions among domestic actors. This study finds that Indonesia’s negotiation strategy, that based on legal norms (UNCLOS) and proactive bilateral diplomacy, allowed for possible overlapping win-sets between both states. In addition, coordination among ministries and agencies will ensure a smooth ratification process and minimized risk of involuntary defection. This case overview the role of domestic politics in shaping international maritime diplomacy and can be a lesson for future boundary negotiations in Southeast Asia.