RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced plans to conduct an internal evaluation regarding its nomination for a judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), following the death of nominee and former Ambassador to Germany Eddy Pratomo.

The ministry's spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela made the announcement during a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday, April 30, 2026. “We will continue to fight for Indonesia’s interests as an archipelagic state. In relation to the nomination, we will carry out an internal evaluation,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

Eddy Pratomo, who passed away on April 29 at the age of 72, had been nominated since May 2025 to serve as an ITLOS judge for the 2026–2035 term.

His candidacy was seen as part of Indonesia’s broader effort to secure representation at ITLOS, which has never included an Indonesian judge since the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was established in 1982.

Eddy was widely respected as an expert in international law. He served as Indonesia’s ambassador to Germany from 2009 to 2013, contributing to the strengthening of bilateral ties, including the commemoration of 60 years of diplomatic relations.

He also played a key role in maritime boundary negotiations and held senior positions at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, including Director General for Law and Treaties, as well as Special Presidential Envoy for Indonesia–Malaysia maritime boundary talks.

The election of seven ITLOS judges is scheduled for June 2026 in New York. ITLOS, based in Hamburg, Germany, is an independent judicial body established under UNCLOS to resolve disputes related to the interpretation and application of maritime law, including resource exploration, environmental protection, and other ocean governance issues.

Eddy’s passing leaves Indonesia at a crossroads in its bid for representation at ITLOS, prompting the government to reassess its strategy while reaffirming its commitment to advancing the interests of archipelagic and developing nations in global maritime governance. ***