Defense Diplomacy through Peacekeeping Operations (PKO): A Reflection on the Role of the Garuda Contingent in 2023

Defense diplomacy has gained prominence in advancing international peace through participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (PKO). This study examines the deployment of Indonesia’s Garuda Contingent in 2023—particularly in UNIFIL (Lebanon), MINUSCA (Central African Republic), and MONUSCO (Democratic Republic of the Congo)—as a strategic instrument for implementing defense diplomacy and projecting soft power. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, data were collected through document study and content analysis of official reports from the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), the UN, academic publications, and credible media sources. The findings show that Indonesia’s PKO involvement produced three major outcomes: (1) strengthening international trust and military interoperability through confidence-building with other contributing nations; (2) enhancing Indonesia’s image as a constructive, democratic Muslim-majority state via humanitarian activities such as medical support, civil–military cooperation, and infrastructure rehabilitation; and (3) improving TNI’s non-combat operational capabilities and adaptability in complex conflict environments. These outcomes confirm that the operationalization of OMSP (Military Operations Other Than War) functions not only as a doctrinal extension of Indonesian defense policy but also as an effective soft power instrument for elevating Indonesia’s strategic profile in global peacebuilding.