JAKARTA – Mounting domestic pressure is building for Indonesia to withdraw from the US-led Board of Peace as the conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran escalates, with concerns raised over the body’s commitment to peace in the region.
Escalating Conflict and Indonesian Response
The conflict in the Middle East has expanded with Iran launching missile attacks against neighboring Gulf states, in retaliation for a coordinated strike by the US and Israel on Tehran and other Iranian cities on Feb. 28 that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Indonesia, under President Prabowo Subianto, has been increasing engagement with the US through the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) and the Board of Peace, intended for post-war reconstruction in Gaza. However, the country’s initial response to the war – a statement of “deep regret” issued by the Foreign Ministry – has drawn criticism for not condemning the US and Israel for initiating the conflict.
Oleh Soleh, a lawmaker from the National Awakening Party (PKB) on House Commission I, urged the government to push for sanctions against Israel and the US. TB Hasanuddin of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), also on Commission I, called for Indonesia to leave the Board of Peace to protect its free and active foreign policy and avoid appearing to tolerate aggression.
Calls for Withdrawal from the Board of Peace
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) was among the first to call for withdrawal, stating on Sunday that the board was “ineffective” in achieving genuine independence for Palestine. Muhammadiyah, another Islamic group, expressed concern over the government’s lack of a firm stance and called for condemnation of the US-Israel attack as a violation of human rights, international law, and the United Nations Charter.
As of Tuesday evening, President Prabowo had not made any public statements regarding the ongoing war. He held a meeting Tuesday evening with former presidents Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, as well as former vice presidents, foreign ministers, and political party leaders, to discuss “various national and global issues.”
Foreign Minister Sugiono spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday, reiterating Indonesia’s readiness to “play a constructive role in advancing peace” and urging “maximum restraint” from all parties involved.
Dilemmas and Debate Over Indonesia’s Role
Yon Machmudi, a Middle East scholar at the University of Indonesia, described Indonesia’s position as “dilemmatic,” suggesting that the longer the war continues, the more the public will question the board’s commitment to peace. “How can the board offer a just peace in Gaza when its chair and members are involved in a war far removed from the vision of peace?” he asked.
Andrea Abdul Rahman Azzqy, an international relations expert from Budi Luhur University, argued that Indonesia’s withdrawal would weaken its role as a mediator and advocate for peaceful resolutions. He suggested Indonesia reconsider its commitments and peacekeeping mission, the International Stabilization Force (ISF), where Indonesia was named deputy commander and pledged to send at least 8,000 troops to Gaza.
Azzqy proposed that Indonesia remain engaged while clearly defining the scope of its involvement, particularly regarding military deployment. Former Indonesian ambassador to the US, Dino Patti Djalal, suggested suspending plans to deploy troops to signal to US President Donald Trump that Indonesia is a “principled country.”
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