Geostrategi Kelapa Sawit Indonesia: Instrumen Diplomasi Ekonomi dan Penguatan Ketahanan Nasional

Abstract

Indonesia is the world's largest producer and exporter of crude palm oil (CPO), controlling more than half of global supply. Beyond its economic weight, palm oil has evolved into a geostrategic asset that Indonesia can leverage as an instrument of economic diplomacy and economic statecraft (Baldwin, 1985; Blackwill & Harris, 2016) to strengthen its bargaining position and national resilience amid shifting global geopolitics. This study examines the geostrategic role of Indonesian palm oil within the framework of economic diplomacy, defense-diplomacy theory (Halkis, 2018), and the Astagatra concept of national resilience (Lemhannas RI, 2023), using a descriptive-qualitative method supported by literature review, policy analysis, and SWOT analysis. The findings show that CPO functions as a strategic instrument in Indonesia's bilateral and multilateral relations with major importers such as India, China, Pakistan, and the European Union, contributing to economic security, energy independence, and an improved international bargaining position. Nevertheless, international environmental regulation, market concentration, and geopolitical pressure continue to constrain the effectiveness of palm oil diplomacy. The study recommends downstream industrialization, export market diversification, stronger sustainability certification, and closer integration of palm oil diplomacy into Indonesia's broader defense-diplomacy strategy (Hermansah et al., 2024) to enhance the country's global influence.