In recent years, China has emerged as Indonesia’s most influential strategic partner across the board, from trade, investment to education and beyond. The US, instead, has held on to its competitive edge built around its institutionalized relationship with the Indonesian defense establishment. Can the US-Indonesia defense relations turn the tide in the broader US-China rivalry in the Indo-Pacific? How central is US-Indonesia defense relation within Indonesia’s broader strategic outlook? Can US-Indonesia defense relations shape the broader bilateral ties? The webinar seeks to address these questions by examining how Indonesia formulates its post-authoritarian grand strategy and the role of US-Indonesia defense relations within it.