Indonesia eventually sent Foreign Minister Sugiono and MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani to attend the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It was the correct decision. But the way Jakarta arrived at that decision revealed a troubling lack of confidence in its own foreign policy.

The problem was not that Indonesia attended. The problem was that it hesitated.

Initially, Jakarta informed Tehran that Indonesia would be represented by its ambassador in Iran, Rolliansyah Soemirat. Only later did the government decide to send a higher-level delegation.

Initially, Jakarta informed Tehran that Indonesia would be represented by its ambassador in Iran, Rolliansyah Soemirat. Only later did the government decide to send a higher-level delegation.

Sugiono explained that Indonesia learned of Iran’s protocol requirements too late and that logistical constraints made an earlier decision difficult.

That explanation may be reasonable. But diplomacy is not only about explaining decisions after they are made. It is about anticipating how those decisions will be interpreted.

Iran’s funeral for its supreme leader was not an ordinary event. It was a major diplomatic gathering attended by foreign delegations. Indonesia’s choice of representation sent a message about how seriously it viewed the relationship.

By initially sending only an ambassador, Jakarta created the impression that it was keeping Iran at arm’s length.

By initially sending only an ambassador, Jakarta created........

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