ASEAN leadership and Indo-Pacific security roleSimultaneously, Indonesia’s multipolar balancing act is heightening tensions within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Diverging opinions on the South China Sea, Myanmar and maritime security pose a threat to the bloc’s unity. This is a moment for Jakarta to move decisively, not as a passive balancer but as the Indo-Pacific’s indispensable diplomatic broker. Additionally, priority initiatives include launching a Decolonizing Security Initiative (similar to the one in Ukraine) to amplify the voices of marginalized regional communities. Or will it leverage its democratic principles, institutional foresight and diplomatic creativity to become ASEAN’s steadfast anchor?