November 2024 Period Notes

The month of November 2024 leaves some important records to be examined. This month saw several monumental events, both at the national and global levels, that have significance for the future of humanity. For example, at the national level, on November 27, 2024, Indonesia for the first time held simultaneous regional elections (Pilkada) to elect governors, regents, mayors in 37 provinces and 508 regencies/cities. Unfortunately, at the momentum of the 2024 elections, the President of Indonesia, who is supposed to be a statesman, overseeing all citizens who are contesting─not favoring one particular pair─has in fact openly expressed support for one or two of his champion pairs and even asked the public to follow the President's political choices.

It is an unfortunate precedent considering that when someone holds the position of President, it means that he is ready to be a leader for all, not just for his group and group. Hopefully, the Indonesian people will be wise in making their political choices, and not be influenced by appeals and calls that are contrary to their heart's choice. That way, we hope that the 2024 elections can give birth to leaders who are trustworthy, qualified, and responsible in carrying out leadership tasks in the next five years.

Source: cnnindonesia.com

At the global level, US President Joe Biden for the first time allowed Ukraine to use their missiles in the fight against Russia. Russia responded by launching their sophisticated missiles into Ukrainian territory. In fact, Russia threatened to use nuclear-powered missiles. If this really happens, then the world is just waiting for the time bomb of destruction. In addition, on November 5, 2024, the Presidential Election in the United States gave birth to the new leader of the United States for the period 2025─2029, namely the re-election of Donald Trump as the 47th US President. Trump's victory was phenomenal, he for the second time managed to break the analysis of survey agencies that predicted that Kamala Harris, Trump's political rival would win the 2024 US Presidential Election.

In fact, based on the results of the electoral college vote, Trump managed to get 312 votes out of the 270 votes needed to win the US presidential election. While Kamala Harris only received 226 votes (source: cnn.com). This means that Donald Trump won absolutely and he has the right to lead the US for the next four years. Trump's victory for the second time from the Democratic Party's female presidential candidate will certainly have a significant impact on the future of US politics and also the international community.

Trump, who is known for his conservative programs and policies such as putting the national interests of the United States as the first priority (America first), anti-multilateral, promoting efficiency, is predicted to continue the policies that Trump had enacted in the first period of his administration (2017─2021). Trump will return to protectionism for the economic and trade sectors, continuing the imposition of high import tariffs that lead to trade wars with other countries such as China.

Furthermore, Trump will also tighten the entry of immigrants to the US mainly from the Middle East, withdraw the US from global climate change mitigation agreements and agreements, and of course Trump will remain on the side of Israel considering that the factor of his victory cannot be separated from the important contribution of Jewish groups in the US and also the political lobbies of Israeli leaders who want whoever the elected US president always supports Israeli Jews.

Interestingly, if in the context of the Hamas-Israel war, Trump will be more inclined to support Israel, then in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war Trump is likely to be more in favor of Russia given the similarities in Trump's way of thinking with Russian President Vladimir Putin in several matters such as politics and democracy.

This will inevitably affect the constellation of the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been involved in attacking each other for more than two years. Some time ago, after Trump was confirmed to win the 2024 US presidential election, President Putin once boasted that he was ready to negotiate regarding the future of the Russian-Ukrainian war. A good initiative that is worth waiting for its realization.

Unfortunately, in the midst of positive signals of resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict after the 2024 US presidential election, the US President under the leadership of Joe Biden made a blunder by allowing Ukraine to use the ATCMS ballistic missiles given by the United States in the fight against Russia. Tragically, Ukraine actually fired these US-given ballistic missiles into Russian territory. In the author's view, this policy is very counterproductive to the efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war that have been initiated by President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Joe Biden's policy, which will end his administration in January 2025, received a serious response from Russia, which decided to fire a hypersonic missile called Oreshnik at Ukrainian military facilities.             

A clear view that the Russia-Ukraine war is so complicated that its resolution can only be achieved by diplomatic means through the wisdom of its leaders. The author is optimistic that under the control of Trump, who is on the same frequency with Putin, the Russia-Ukraine war may end soon. Hopefully!