Mount Semeru’s Eruptions Spotlight Indonesia’s Risky Governance and Global Implications for America

Indonesia’s decision to raise the alert level of Mount Semeru to its highest tier after a violent series of eruptions is more than a regional emergency; it reveals a disturbing pattern of government complacency that threatens both local populations and, indirectly, American strategic interests. How Long Will Local Officials Ignore Clear Dangers? Semeru, Java’s tallest peak, sent scorching ash clouds and pyroclastic flows ripping down slopes up to seven kilometers, forcing the evacuation of over 300 residents from vulnerable villages. Yet this catastrophe is far from unprecedented. Last December, a devastating eruption killed 51 people and razed entire villages. The...