Discussion of Indonesia-EU comprehensive economic partnership agreement: European interest in Indo-Pacific and Bebas Aktif foreign policy

European Union-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EUI CEPA) have been held since 2016. This study deduces that regardless of the importance and expectations, technical issues related to the agreement’s draft and non-technical issues, such as Indo-Pacific geopolitics, become major challenges in its discussion. Therefore, this study investigates why these elements are considered crucial for both parties involved, while acknowledging the difficulties associated with qualitative research methods. It argues that the European Union (EU) and Indonesia are strategically interested in the trade talks. For Indonesia, it is an application of the ‘Bebas Aktif’ foreign policy doctrine in which it tries to gain economic and political benefit at the bilateral level with the EU and systemic level of the Indo-Pacific. Meanwhile, the EU trade talks are an essential foundation for setting its foot at the core of a contemporary economic powerhouse while also gaining access to one of the most promising domestic markets. Despite ongoing negotiations, intransigence on both sides and external pressures culminated in a stalemate during the trade talks.