History and current configuration of bilateral relations between the Republic of Indonesia and New Zealand

Abstract

This paper outlines the main directions of Indonesian foreign policy towards New Zealand. The author analyzes the features of the development of political, economic, and cultural ties, as well as the main areas of cooperation and the prospects for further interaction. New

Zealand and Indonesia have a long history of relations, however, countries have always had contradictions that stem from the differences in the mentality of the two countries.

The general dynamics of relations over a long period of time graphically reflects the strategies in foreign policy, both belonging to the "western" civilization of New Zealand, and the original ancient Indonesia, which always seeks to preserve Javanese harmony, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to avoid non-beneficial decisions and arrangements. "The Malay world" has been facing "Western" countries, for a long time in all external fields, and New Zealand is one of the geographically closest "Western actor". Modern interaction of these states looks less ideologized, more pragmatic, however pragmatism would be unattainable without the previous conflict and clash of worldviews. Previously, the topic of bilateral relations of these countries was not considered in the Russian scientific field, thus it can be deemed necessary to conduct a general analysis of the history and main directions of bilateral interaction of these states.