Muslim Leadership and the Threats of Transnational Terrorism: Comparing Indonesia and Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Abstract-Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are two important Muslim countries which have taken a strategic role in managing regional leadership in Southeast Asia and the Middle East respectively. They are leading regional diplomacy in maintaining stability, security, and peace. Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are two of three Muslim countries joined G20. The third country is Turkey. Both countries actively involved in constructing regional organization, democratization and preventing the rise of transnational terrorism threats. Saudi Arabia is leading country of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), political and economic alliances of six Gulf countries. In addition, Indonesia is significant leader in ASEAN and Asia Pacific region. Both countries are challenged by the rise of transnational terrorism threats. Great power context in this paper comes from economic posture and regional leadership in shaping security, especially combatting transnational terrorism. This paper examines the role of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia in regional leadership, and how they lead a regional cooperation on countering terrorism in each region.