The international arena continued to be marked by major developments this week, ranging from political upheavals in Europe and diplomatic overtures between South Korea and Japan to Indonesia’s expanding digital payment integration abroad.
In the Netherlands, Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned on Friday (22/8) after failing to secure coalition support for his proposal to impose sanctions on Israel over the war in Gaza. His resignation triggered a wave of departures from the Cabinet by members of the New Social Contract party, deepening political instability in The Hague.
In Southeast Asia, Malaysia faced a military incident when an F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet exploded shortly after takeoff on Thursday (21/8) night. The pilot and copilot survived, according to Pahang Police. Meanwhile, Thailand entered another period of uncertainty after former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from a 15-year sentence for lèse-majesté, amid ongoing legal proceedings involving former Prime Minister Paetongtarn. The situation underscores Thailand’s fragile domestic stability and its broader regional implications.
In East Asian diplomacy, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is set to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of his visit to Washington. The meeting signals efforts by Seoul to strengthen bilateral ties with Tokyo, especially in economic cooperation, and to coordinate on shared challenges involving the United States. At the same time, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded a diplomatic visit to India from 18–20 August 2025, meeting senior officials including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a move seen as a positive step toward easing long-standing tensions between the two countries.
In the economic sphere, Indonesia marked a milestone with the official overseas rollout of its QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) payment system in four countries: Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Bank Indonesia is preparing further expansion to China, India, and South Korea, a move expected to facilitate transactions for tourists and businesses while strengthening Indonesia’s role in regional digital financial integration.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, former Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi received international recognition after being appointed Champion on Water Investment at the 2025 Africa Water Infrastructure Summit in Cape Town. In this role, Retno pledged to advance global water investment through the “Triple A” principles—Advocacy, Alignment, and Acceleration—highlighting the importance of water governance for human security and sustainable development.
Source:
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