Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has assured local Islamic groups that the country will withdraw from U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” if the initiative fails to benefit Palestinians, according to a government statement released on Friday.
The statement said Prabowo made the remarks during a meeting with leaders of Islamic organisations in Indonesia, where concerns were raised about the country’s participation in the U.S.-led initiative.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, recently joined the Board of Peace and has also indicated a willingness to contribute troops to a proposed international stabilisation force in Gaza. However, the move has sparked criticism from analysts and several Muslim groups at home who believe it could undermine Jakarta’s long-standing support for the Palestinian cause.
Hanif Alatas of the Islamic Brotherhood Front said the president reassured the groups that Indonesia would not remain part of the initiative if it no longer served Palestinian interests.
“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,” Alatas said in the statement.
Indonesia’s participation in the board has become increasingly controversial amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The Indonesian Ulema Council, one of the country’s most influential clerical bodies, has previously urged the government to leave the board, citing the United States’ role in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
At the same time, other groups such as Nahdlatul Ulama — the country’s largest Muslim organisation — have suggested that Indonesia could remain in the initiative and use its position to push for de-escalation and peace in the region.
Indonesia’s foreign minister has also indicated that discussions related to the Board of Peace have been temporarily halted due to the widening conflict in the Middle East.
The Board of Peace was proposed by the United States as part of efforts to manage post-war governance and stabilisation efforts in Gaza, including overseeing an international force meant to help maintain security and support reconstruction in the territory.
Indonesia has long supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and frequently positions itself as a strong advocate for Palestinian independence on the global stage.
