Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has assured local Islamic organizations that the country will withdraw from the United States-led “Board of Peace” if the platform fails to advance the interests of Palestinians and Indonesia itself, a government statement confirmed on Friday.
The participation of Indonesia—the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation—on the board, along with its decision to contribute troops to a proposed Gaza stabilization force, has sparked criticism from experts and domestic Islamic groups. Critics argue that involvement in the board could compromise Indonesia’s long-standing support for the Palestinian cause.
According to the government, President Prabowo met with leaders of Islamic groups on Thursday evening to explain the rationale behind Indonesia’s decision to join the board. The President emphasized that the country’s involvement is conditional and guided by the principle of benefiting Palestinian and national interests. Hanif Alatas, a leader from the Islamic Brotherhood Front, stated that “the president said that if he sees that there is no longer any benefit for Palestine … and that it is not in line with Indonesia’s national interests, he will withdraw.”
Indonesia’s prominent clerical organization, the Indonesian Ulema Council, had previously called on the government to exit the board, citing concerns over the United States’ involvement in the ongoing Iran conflict. Meanwhile, Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s largest Muslim group, suggested that the country could leverage its position on the board to promote de-escalation in the Middle East. Yahya Cholil Staquf, the group’s chief, said, “Indonesia could declare that the board’s agenda is on hold until there are talks on de-escalation and peace from the American-Israeli war against Iran.”
All discussions within the Board of Peace have been paused due to the regional conflict, according to Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, leaving Indonesia’s engagement in the platform temporarily on hold. The government’s statements highlight a careful balancing act between supporting international peace initiatives and safeguarding Indonesia’s foreign policy priorities and Muslim-majority constituency concerns.
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