The country’s discussions related to the Board of Peace (BOP) are on hold as attention has shifted to the conflict involving Iran, even as President Prabowo Subianto defended the country’s participation in the board.
“All discussions related to the Board of Peace are on hold,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono told reporters on Tuesday, after Prabowo held a rare late-night briefing with former presidents and senior political leaders amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Sugiono added that Indonesia continues “to consult with our partners, including colleagues in the Gulf, as they have also been affected by attacks and are members of the board”.
The BOP is an initiative started by US President Donald Trump to address the situation in Gaza.
Indonesia has pledged to send up to 8,000 peacekeeping troops as part of a proposed multinational stabilisation force under the BOP.
Indonesia’s involvement in the BOP has faced domestic scrutiny, including from the country’s highest Islamic authority, the Indonesian Ulema Council.
In a statement on March 1, the council urged the government to withdraw from the forum, arguing that it was ineffective in advancing “genuine independence” for Palestine. — The Straits Times/ANN
