Remember when Drake said, ‘I know when that hotline bling, that can only mean one thing’? Well, it turns out that hotline bling is not just for late-night calls. In an unexpected twist, Indonesia is giving East Timor a ring, and it’s not for a casual chat – they’re dialing in for a deeper, more harmonious partnership.
Earlier this year, political leaders from Indonesia and East Timor met to discuss the development of an economic partnership between the two countries. One that would include economic cooperation for border areas as well as for education and the tech industry. Indonesia is also currently investing millions of dollars into East Timor as well as supporting them in their desire to join ASEAN. President Joko Widodo of Indonesia stated, “A roadmap for full membership is being prepared, led by Indonesia as the current chair of ASEAN.”
For the average news consumer, this development might seem like a minor blip in the world of international relations. Nonetheless, it carries a series of implications rooted in events that precede it by decades. After Portugal’s decolonization of East Timor in 1974, Indonesia decided the country needed to be put under control and thereby invaded it with the brunt of its military force. The invasion was marked by human rights abuse, economic instability, and violent struggles for independence for the people of East Timor. In his work, author Joseph Nevins emphasized the importance of commodities as they relate to social and political ties. They can be the source of conflict among nations or the reason for which they enter into allyship. Nevins states,
“Commodities embody social relations. They have a history that traverses, reflects,
and shapes different historical durations and a geography that is multi-scalar. In this regard, conflicts over resources and/or primary commodities reflected and informed the nature of the almost-quarter-century Indonesia–East Timor war.”
During the invasion, Indonesia exploited East Timor’s resources. Commodities such as oil and gas were not merely economic assets but became central characters in the narrative of a nearly quarter-century conflict that shaped the region’s history and left lasting scars on the people and their lands. Today, Indonesia is directing investments into the nation, aiming to sustain the economic advantages that come with fostering an environment of economic collaboration. Whether Indonesia’s motivations are genuinely centered on assisting East Timor or primarily focused on enhancing their own social and economic ties, is not a determination for me to make. Nevertheless, one can hope that economic growth will not be one-sided as East Timor also reaps rewards as a result of this new partnership.