List of 6 Countries Recognizing Indonesian Independence

rancakmedia.com – After Indonesia's independence day was declared on August 17, 1945, six foreign countries were the first to recognize it. There are countries that recognize Indonesia's independence and fulfill the declarative elements in forming the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

In addition to the declarative elements, there are also constitutive elements that influence, which are divided into regions, people and sovereign government.

Actually, the declarative element does not absolutely have to be fulfilled, but it is important so that it is not isolated in international relations. Then, who was the first country to recognize Indonesia's independence? Here's a list of six.

Here Are Countries That Recognize Indonesia's Independence

1. Egypt

The country that first recognized Indonesia's independence was Egypt on March 22, 1946. Released gramedia.com on July 17, 2021, the country which is known for its pyramids and the Sphinx then forged diplomatic ties with Indonesia. Until 2018 the diplomatic ties between Indonesia and Egypt have been running for 71 years and continue to be improved until now.

Egypt's support in recognizing the independence of the Republic of Indonesia was said when the Consul General of Egypt, Muhammad Abdul Mu'im, arrived in Yogyakarta on 13-16 March 1947. Quoting Kompas Stori on 22 May 2021, the direction of his presence was to convey a message from the Arab League which provided support for Indonesian independence .

The Arab League as an organization divided into several Arab countries. The role of Egypt as the country that first recognized Indonesia's independence was enormous, because it was followed by other Middle Eastern countries such as Syria, Qatar, Iraq and Saudi Arabia in giving statements or support. The reason the Arab League provides support is religious ties, kinship and brotherhood.

2. Syria

When Indonesia became independent but was still plagued by Dutch military aggression, Syria, as a member of the Arab League, championed the issue at the 1947 UN session. The Dutch military aggression in Indonesia was eventually stopped through comfortable talks.

Since Syria became a country that recognizes Indonesia's independence, bilateral relations have also been bound. However, the increase in relations had stopped when the Syrian conflict infiltrated in 2011. Currently the relations between the two countries only provide mutual support in the international community.

3. Lebanese

Lebanon followed Egypt and Syria into the list of countries that recognized Indonesia's independence. A de jure statement was given by Lebanon to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia on 29 July 1947.

From there, the Indonesia-Lebanon bilateral relationship was bound, which was initially accredited by the Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt. The Indonesian Embassy for Lebanon was then officially established in the capital Beirut in 1996.

4. Yemen

Recognition of Indonesia's independence was given to Yemen on May 3, 1948. Henceforth, bilateral relations between Indonesia and Yemen have continued to be improved in the political, economic, and socio-cultural sectors, and have been going on for 70 years.

5. Saudi Arabia

The country that recognized Indonesia's independence after that was Saudi Arabia. However, the RI-Saudi Arabia bilateral relationship was only officially bound starting on May 1, 1950 and has continued until now.

King Salman had visited Indonesia in 2017, and the oil-rich country opened up job opportunities for Indonesian Migrant Workers (TKI). Do not forget, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia also cooperate in the haj sector.

6. Vatican

July 6, 1947, the Vatican became one of the first European countries to give a statement of sovereignty on Indonesian independence. The diplomatic ties between the two countries can be seen in the establishment of the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) at the Vatican in the same year. RI-Vatican ties were strengthened when the Vatican Embassy (Apostolic Nunciature) officially arrived in Jakarta since 1950.

Several Countries Provide Support for Indonesian Independence

Several countries supported an independent Indonesia, even before President Soekarno read out the proclamation on August 17, 1945. Quoting Good News from Indonesia on August 24, 2020, one of the supporting countries was Palestine as noted by Zein Hassan in the book Diplomacy of the Indonesian Revolution Abroad.

Support for Palestine was expressed by a nationalist figure as well as the Grand Mufti, Amin Al Husseini, through Arabic radio broadcasts for 2 consecutive days from Berlin, Germany, in 1944. Amin Al Husseini's words were not an acknowledgment of sovereignty in a legal way, but only support because of Indonesia not yet independent. The Palestinian area itself in 1944 was still under the British government (1920-1948).

Next release Compass The story, after Palestine there was India which also supported the independence of the Republic of Indonesia, was motivated by the rice diplomacy by Sutan Sjahrir in 1946. At that time Indonesia sent a large 500,000 tons of aid to India when it was experiencing a food crisis due to British colonialism.

Rice diplomacy has made India constantly voice the Indonesian nation's struggle for independence. Then, India through its prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, initiated the holding of the Inter-Asia Meeting or the New Delhi Meeting on 20-25 January 1949.

Apart from rice diplomacy, the background of India's support includes feelings of shared fate and responsibility as a colonized nation, historical and cultural closeness since the 5th century AD, and the friendship between the leaders of the two countries.