Prabowo Reconsiders Role in Trump-Led ‘Board of Peace’

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — President Prabowo Subianto is reconsidering Indonesia’s commitment to the Board of Peace (BoP), an international security body, as recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran threaten to upend the delicate power balance in the Middle East. The review marks a potential pivot for Jakarta, which had initially viewed the organization as a fast track for Palestinian rehabilitation.

The reassessment was disclosed by former Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda following a high-level "council of elders" meeting at the Merdeka Palace late Tuesday. The session brought together the nation’s political titans, including former presidents, vice presidents, and veteran diplomats, to deliberate on Indonesia’s standing in an increasingly volatile global order.

At stake is more than just a seat at the table. Indonesia’s membership in the BoP—an initiative spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump—carries significant financial and military weight, including a proposed $1 billion (Rp 15.6 trillion) dues payment and the deployment of 8,000 peacekeepers. For a middle power like Indonesia, the decision to remain or retreat serves as a litmus test for its "free and active" foreign policy in an era of renewed great-power friction.

The Iran Complication

The BoP’s primary appeal for Jakarta was its stated mission to facilitate a ceasefire and reconstruct Gaza. However, the recent direct confrontation between the U.S.-Israel alliance and Tehran has fundamentally altered the group’s mandate in the eyes of Indonesian policymakers.

"With these latest developments, an evaluation is mandatory," Mr. Hassan told reporters. He noted that the success of the BoP’s humanitarian and reconstruction efforts is likely to deteriorate as the conflict widens. "The President was very clear: we will assess the extent to which the BoP can still fulfill its mission. If it cannot, we are out".

Ahmad Muzani, Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), echoed this sentiment, asserting that Indonesia maintains the sovereign right to withdraw at any time. While the BoP was intended to accelerate Palestinian independence, Mr. Muzani noted that "the Iran issue" has introduced a layer of complexity that the administration cannot ignore.

A ‘Fragile’ Global Order

The internal debate reflects a broader anxiety within the Indonesian capital regarding the reliability of international institutions. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Chairman of the Democratic Party and a key member of the ruling coalition, described the current world as "fragile" and "full of surprises".

"We must be prepared to be dynamic at any moment, making adjustments and tactical steps," Mr. Yudhoyono said, though he deferred the final announcement of any policy shift to the President himself.

President Prabowo has spent the week soliciting a wide range of "sharp and critical" views from his predecessors, including the 7th President Joko Widodo and the 6th President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. This consultative approach suggests that while a withdrawal from the BoP is on the table, the administration is moving carefully to ensure that any exit does not isolate Jakarta from its strategic partners in the West or the Islamic world.

The administration has yet to set a definitive deadline for its decision, but the evaluation is expected to cover the viability of the $1 billion (Rp 15.6 trillion) fee and the security risks posed to Indonesian troops slated for deployment. As Middle East tensions simmer, Jakarta is signaling that its support for international initiatives is no longer a given, but a contingent arrangement based on measurable progress toward regional stability.