There are several country flags around the world that look almost exactly identical, and one of the most prominent cases is the red and white flag of Indonesia and Monaco.
While most people think this is just a coincidence and not a big deal, the two countries actually had an official dispute about this.
Origins of the Two Identical Designs
At first glance, the national flags of Monaco and Indonesia appear strikingly identical. Both consist of two horizontal bands, red on the top and white on the bottom. This similarity is not the result of imitation, but coincidence shaped by very different historical paths.
Monaco, a small principality on the Mediterranean coast, has used red and white as its heraldic colors since the Middle Ages, derived from the House of Grimaldi.
Indonesia, by contrast, adopted the red-and-white bicolor as a symbol of independence in the twentieth century, drawing inspiration from ancient Javanese kingdoms such as Majapahit, where the same colors held deep cultural meaning.
Indonesia’s Independence
Indonesia proclaimed its independence from Dutch colonial rule in 1945. As part of establishing itself as a sovereign nation, it officially adopted the red-and-white flag known as Sang Merah Putih.
For Indonesians, the colors carried powerful symbolism: red representing courage or the human body, and white representing purity or the soul. The flag quickly became a unifying emblem of national identity, sacrifice, and resistance after centuries of foreign domination.
At the time, Indonesia’s leaders were aware that other nations used similar colors, but they viewed their flag as rooted in their own history rather than borrowed from elsewhere.
The similarity to Monaco’s flag did not immediately spark controversy, largely because Indonesia was focused on consolidating its independence and gaining international recognition.
Monaco’s Formal Objection in 1952
The issue came to the surface in 1952, when Monaco formally raised an objection to Indonesia’s flag.
The principality argued that its red-and-white bicolor had been in use long before Indonesia became an independent state and that the identical design could cause confusion in diplomatic and international settings.
Monaco requested that Indonesia consider changing its flag to avoid duplication. From Monaco’s perspective, the concern was about precedence and distinct national symbols.
As one of the world’s oldest sovereign states, Monaco viewed its flag as a long-established marker of identity.
The emergence of a much larger, newly independent country using the same design understandably felt problematic to its leadership.
Indonesia’s Firm Refusal
Indonesia responded by firmly rejecting Monaco’s request. Indonesian officials emphasized that the red-and-white flag was not a recent invention but a revival of colors deeply embedded in the archipelago’s precolonial history.
They argued that their flag symbolized centuries of cultural continuity and the hard-won struggle for independence. Changing it so soon after liberation was seen as unthinkable and disrespectful to those who had fought under it.
For Indonesia, the issue was not merely aesthetic or diplomatic. It touched on sovereignty and dignity.
Agreeing to change the flag at the request of a European principality could be interpreted as yielding to external pressure, something Indonesia was keen to avoid in its early years as a nation.
The Flag Proportions
Despite the disagreement, the dispute never escalated into a serious diplomatic crisis. Instead, a practical and symbolic solution emerged. While the color arrangement of both flags remained identical, the two countries emphasized differences in their official proportions.
Indonesia’s flag has a ratio of 2:3, making it longer in relation to its height. Monaco’s flag uses a ratio of 4:5, giving it a squarer appearance. This distinction, while subtle, was enough to satisfy international protocol and reduce confusion.
In official contexts such as the United Nations or diplomatic events, the differing proportions help identify which flag belongs to which country. Importantly, this solution allowed both nations to preserve their historical symbols without compromise.
An Unspoken Resolution
There was no dramatic treaty or public declaration announcing the end of the dispute. Instead, the matter quietly faded as both countries continued to use their flags with their respective proportions.
Over time, the issue became more of a historical footnote than an active disagreement. Today, the similarity between the two flags is often cited as a curiosity rather than a controversy.
Symbolism Beyond Similarity
The Monaco–Indonesia flag dispute highlights how national symbols can carry vastly different meanings even when they look the same. For Monaco, the red-and-white bicolor reflects dynastic continuity and centuries of statehood.
For Indonesia, it represents liberation, unity, and a reclaiming of ancient identity after colonial rule. The resolution through proportion rather than redesign underscores how diplomacy can balance respect for history with practical compromise.
In the end, two nations of vastly different size, culture, and geography continue to fly nearly identical flags, each confident in the unique story it tells.
