Malaysia and Indonesia Edge Toward Ambalat Resolution Amidst Ongoing maritime Dispute

geostrategist Azmi Hassan,from the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research,indicated that malaysia and Indonesia are maintaining the existing situation regarding the Ambalat region while actively negotiating a resolution. He explained to CNA that, “Similar to the South China Sea maritime dispute between Malaysia and China, status quo is the key word here. And during the status quo,technical negotiations can continue.”

Hassan suggested that even if a definitive boundary agreement proves elusive, a collaborative venture between Petronas and pertamina – the national oil companies of Malaysia and Indonesia – is a likely outcome.”Because we know there is a huge abundance of oil reserves there, and not doing anything there will be a negative economic impact for Malaysia and Indonesia,” he stated.

the dispute over the Sulawesi Sea has proven complex due to overlapping claims concerning both maritime boundaries and the sovereignty of Pulau Sipadan and Pulau Ligitan. While the International Court of Justice awarded these two islands to Malaysia in 2002, the overlapping maritime boundaries remained unresolved, leading to periodic tensions between the two nations.

Past incidents highlight the sensitivity of the issue. In 2004, Petronas’s awarding of an exploration concession to Shell triggered protests from Indonesia, which had concurrently granted similar rights to Eni, an Italian energy firm, as reported by The Star. Further escalating tensions, in 2009, Indonesia protested Malaysia’s military presence in the area, and in 2010, Indonesian naval vessels reportedly nearly engaged a Malaysian patrol ship after it disregarded orders to withdraw.

Despite the protracted nature of the dispute, with previous leaders failing to achieve a breakthrough, Azmi hassan believes the strong rapport between Malaysian Prime Minister anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto could facilitate progress.”When Anwar mentioned that there will be a joint growth of Ambalat with Indonesia, I think it was not finalised. I think on the part of Malaysia, maybe it was premature or just to test the scenario first,” he commented.

Adib, from Viewfinder Global Affairs, noted the common expectation that high-level meetings signify resolution or concrete agreements on major issues. However, he added, “It is not uncommon for such meetings to take place even with unresolved matters still in the background. If this was the case, then the recent meeting should help in getting Indonesia and Malaysia to the finishing line.”

Ultimately, Adib concluded, “when the financial gains for both countries are clear, negotiations are likely to conclude quickly.”

Disclaimer: This article provides information regarding geopolitical matters. It is not intended to provide legal, financial, or medical advice. Consult with qualified professionals for such guidance.

What are your thoughts on this developing situation? Share your insights in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe to world-today-news.com for the latest updates on global affairs!