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The Diplomat  |  Author

Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat

Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat

Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat is an academic from Indonesia whose research focuses on China-Indonesia-Middle East relations.

He spends his time between Indonesia and South Korea, where he is an assistant professor at the Department of International Relations, Universitas Islam Indonesia and a research professor at Korea Institute for ASEAN Studies, Busan University of Foreign Studies.

Beyond these two institutions, Muhammad is also a research affiliate at the Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore and a research associate at Jakarta-based Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF). Since August 2022, he has served as an associate at IDEAS, the London School of Economics’ foreign policy think-tank. In addition, he has held visiting professor positions at Bina Nusantara University and Universitas Paramadina.

Muhammad received a B.A. in International Affairs from Qatar University, before completing an M.A. in International Politics and a Ph.D in Politics at the University of Manchester in the U.K.

He is a regular contributor to The Diplomat, Asia Sentinel, The Conversation, and the South China Morning Post.

Posts by Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
May 22, 2023

Gulf States’ Growing Aid Diplomacy in Indonesia

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama
As the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia is receiving increased attention from the wealthy states of the Middle East.

April 17, 2023

The China-brokered Iran-Saudi Peace Deal: Implications For Indonesia

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama
The prospects of China acting as a peace mediator are much less likely closer to home.
February 08, 2023

Two Ways Indonesia is Helping China Persecute the Uyghurs

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama
Jakarta has been vocal in its defense of the Rohingya and the Palestinians. So why is it being so cautious about the situation in China's Xinjiang region?

January 17, 2023

Chinese and Indonesian Workers Clash at Indonesian Nickel Plant

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama
The violence, which resulted in the deaths of two workers, is likely to inflame anti-Chinese sentiment in the country.

December 05, 2022

China’s Prominent Role in the 2022 Qatar World Cup

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama
Despite not qualifying for the festival of football, the country has left a deep impression on the tournament in Qatar.

November 22, 2022

Exploring the Growing Qatar-Indonesia Military Cooperation

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
Closer defense ties have addressed divergent but overlapping interests between the two nations.
November 16, 2022

China’s Expanding Health Diplomacy in Indonesia

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama
After economics and trade, the health sector has become a priority focus of Beijing's engagement with Southeast Asia's most populous nation.

September 02, 2022

China’s ‘Think-Tank Diplomacy’ is Gaining Traction in Indonesia

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
Partnerships between Indonesian and Chinese research institutes are an increasingly prominent part of Beijing's "soft power" strategy. Are they working?

June 22, 2022

China’s Growing ‘Twiplomacy’ in Indonesia

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
Despite being banned inside China, Twitter is broadening Chinese diplomats' engagements with the Indonesian public.

June 10, 2022

Indonesia and Qatar Collaborate on Afghanistan Relief Efforts

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama
The two are Muslim-majority nations that have sought a similar role as international mediators.

March 31, 2022

Indonesia Looks to the UAE for Military Cooperation

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama
Despite their geographic distance, the two nations have increasingly complementary defense and security interests.
February 22, 2022

The Growing China-Indonesia-UAE Trilateral Relations

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the three nations have established a triad of deepening and mutually beneficial relationships.

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