Dr Ayu Rachman is a researcher and lecturer in international relations, specialising in Southeast Asian diplomacy, education internationalisation, and strategic partnerships. Her work explores the intersection of foreign policy, diplomacy and economic security, with a particular focus on Japan–ASEAN relations and Indonesia’s evolving role in the Indo-Pacific. She is currently a Visiting Research Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), supported by the Japan Foundation Fellowship. Ayu holds a PhD in International Relations from Universitas Padjadjaran and an MA in International Development from University College London. Her recent publications examine South–South cooperation, higher education mobility, and the strategic dimensions of Indonesia’s foreign policy under President Prabowo Subianto.