Research Originality: This study uncovers the unexpected negative impact of long-term external debt on Indonesia’s foreign exchange reserves, challenging conventional beliefs about debt stability. Research Objectives: This study provides important—and occasionally surprising—new insights into the dynamics of Indonesia's external debt and its impact on the country's foreign exchange reserves. Research Methods: Using recent time series data from 2013–2024 and the tried-and-true OLS regression method, this study provides a thorough and timely analysis of the relationship between Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves and the structure of its external debt. Empirical Results: The empirical results indicate that long-term debt has a negative impact on foreign exchange reserves, whereas Rupiah and foreign currency-denominated debts have positive effects. Notably, short-term debt shows no significant impact. These findings offer practical guidance for Indonesia’s external debt management, supporting better debt prioritization and enhanced financial resilience. Implications: These novel insights offer valuable guidance for optimizing debt management to strengthen Indonesia’s financial resilience and economic stability.
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