Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the strategic importance of West Sumatra within the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in maintaining energy security and regional stability, as well as securing trade routes. Santo Darmosumarto, Director General for Asia-Pacific and Africa at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outlined the strategic role of Indonesia’s upcoming 2026 chairmanship of IORA to an audience of 4,000 students at Andalas University. He delivered the presentation during a public lecture titled “Diplomacy at Work: Championing Indonesia’s National Interests in the Indian Ocean through IORA” at Andalas University in Padang, West Sumatra, on Tuesday (Aug. 11). In a press release issued by the ministry in Jakarta on Thursday, Darmosumarto explained how diplomacy functions to advance national interests through the IORA forum, with the aim of generating concrete impacts and contributing to people’s daily lives. He noted that Indonesia’s geographical position between the Indian and Pacific oceans is highly strategic and holds immense potential. Therefore, robust diplomacy is needed to transform this position into tangible opportunities. Through the IORA forum, he said, Indonesia prioritizes diplomacy that champions national interests in the Indian Ocean, including maintaining energy security and regional stability, as well as securing trade routes. Shifting from the national perspective, Darmosumarto highlighted the significance of IORA for West Sumatra. He emphasized that the Indian Ocean is directly relevant to the province, which serves as Indonesia’s primary gateway to the Indian Ocean region. “IORA is not something distant from West Sumatra; it is closely linked to the lives of the people here,” Darmosumarto said. He added that IORA’s priority areas, such as the blue economy, fisheries management, marine tourism, and disaster mitigation, are directly linked to the natural potential and research strengths of Andalas University. Furthermore, he noted that the success of diplomacy is felt when instability is prevented, supply chains remain smooth, investment opportunities are opened, and the benefits are directly experienced by communities. “That is what is known as diplomacy in action,” he said. He also explained that the formulation of Indonesia’s foreign policy consistently involves all stakeholders at both the national and regional levels, a process exemplified by the launch of the IORA Task Force on Aug. 10.