Indonesia’s foreign minister confirmed on Tuesday (Mar 3) that discussions regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace (BoP), in which the country is a key troop-contributing member, have been temporarily put on hold due to the escalating war in the Middle East.
The BoP was originally established to oversee post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza, but the U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran, which have killed civilians, disrupted global air transport, and caused oil prices to spike following the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have shifted attention away from its original mission.
“All BoP discussions are on hold as all attention has shifted to the situation in Iran,” Foreign Minister Sugiono, who goes by one name, told reporters. “We will also consult with our friends and colleagues in the Gulf because they are also under attack.”
Indonesia’s involvement in the board has faced domestic criticism from experts and Muslim groups, who argue that it undermines the country’s long-standing support for the Palestinian cause. Indonesia continues to back a two-state solution. The Indonesian Ulema Council recently called for Jakarta to withdraw from the board, citing the Trump administration’s attacks on Iran as evidence of the initiative’s ineffectiveness, while Nahdlatul Ulama, the nation’s largest Muslim organisation, urged Indonesia to leverage its position to pressure the U.S. and Israel to halt the violence.
Sugiono also noted that President Prabowo Subianto is prepared to act as a mediator in the Iran conflict to help de-escalate regional tensions. Indonesia is currently preparing 1,000 troops for potential deployment in Gaza by early April as part of a multinational peacekeeping effort under the UN-mandated International Stabilization Force, where Jakarta will serve as deputy commander.
The pause on BoP talks underscores the challenges facing international peace initiatives as global attention shifts to the rapidly unfolding conflict in Iran, highlighting Indonesia’s cautious approach in balancing regional security responsibilities with its diplomatic stance on Middle East issues.
