Since independence, Indonesian foreign relations have adhered to a "free and active" foreign policy, seeking to play a role in regional affairs commensurate with its size and location but avoiding involvement in conflicts among major powers. During the presidency of Sukarno, Indonesia's foreign relations were marked by engagement with other newly independent nations in Asia and Africa, as exemplified by the Bandung Conference, the subsequent foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement and a confrontational attitude towards Western powers, justified by a belief in the CONEFO and opposition to what Sukarno termed as NEKOLIM.
Medan is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of North Sumatra. The nearby Strait of Malacca, Port of Belawan, and Kualanamu International Airport make Medan a regional hub and multicultural metropolis, acting as a financial centre for Sumatra and a gateway to the western part of Indonesia. About 60% of the economy in North Sumatra is backed by trading, agriculture, and processing industries, including exports from its 4 million acres of palm oil plantations. The National Development Planning Agency listed Medan as one of the four main central cities in Indonesia, alongside Jakarta, Surabaya, and Makassar.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia or commonly known by its abbreviation Kemlu, is an Indonesian government ministry responsible for the country's foreign politics and diplomacy. The ministry was formerly known as the Department of Foreign Affairs until 2008 when the nomenclature changed with the enactment of the 2008 State Ministry Act.
The Czech Republic and the Republic of Indonesia established diplomatic relations in 1950. Both nations have agreed to forge ties to deepen relations, especially in the business and trade sector. Indonesia has an embassy in Prague, while the Czech Republic has an embassy in Jakarta that is also accredited to Brunei, Timor Leste, Singapore and ASEAN, and honorary consulates in Bali, Makassar and Surabaya.
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuala Lumpur is the diplomatic mission of Indonesia in Malaysia. The embassy serves large amounts of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia. Other Indonesian diplomatic establishments in Malaysia include four consulate-generals in Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), Kuching (Serawak), and Penang, and a consulate in Tawau.
The Consulate-General of Japan, Surabaya is a Japanese diplomatic mission to Indonesia in Surabaya, East Java. The first Japanese diplomatic mission in Surabaya was established on 13 March 1920 while the city was under rule of the Dutch East Indies. In 1979, the consulate upgraded its status to Consulate-General. The General-Consulate in Surabaya leads the Japanese diplomatic mission in the 4 provinces and 8 provinces with the consulate office (branch) in Makassar. The consulate-general is located at Jalan Sumatera No.93, Gubeng, Surabaya. Takeyama Kenichi is the current consul general in Surabaya.
The Australian Consulate-General in Surabaya represents the Commonwealth of Australia in Surabaya, the second most populous city in Indonesia. The Consulate-General of Australia in Surabaya was established in February 2017, and is the fourth diplomatic mission of Australia in Indonesia after Jakarta (1935), Denpasar (1981), and Makassar (2016). The seat of consulate-general located at Level 3 ESA Sampoerna Center, Sukolilo, Surabaya, East Java. Chris Barnes is the first consul-general in Surabaya. He has been replaced with Fiona Hoggart since December 2021.
The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Jakarta is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Turkey to the Indonesia. Turkish Embassy in Jakarta was opened on 10 April 1957. The Turkish Embassy has been serving at its current chancellery in Kuningan, Jakarta since 1983.
