Sugiono confirmed that all discussions on the Board of Peace (BoP) are currently suspended as the Middle East conflict intensifies. The U.S.–Israeli air campaign against Iran has disrupted global aviation, pushed oil prices higher and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of wider regional instability.
Indonesia, one of the key troop-contributing countries to the proposed peace initiative, now says diplomatic priorities have shifted. Sugiono added that Jakarta will consult Gulf partners, noting they too are directly affected by the ongoing hostilities.
Domestic Backlash Grows
Indonesia’s participation in the Board of Peace has drawn criticism at home. The Indonesian Ulema Council has urged Jakarta to withdraw from the initiative, arguing that Trump’s attack on Iran undermines the credibility of the peace framework.
Meanwhile, Nahdlatul Ulama, the country’s largest Muslim organisation, has called on the government to instead use its position to press Israel and the United States to halt violence.
Indonesia has long supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and critics argue that joining the U.S.-led board risks diluting its traditional pro-Palestinian stance.
Mediation Offer and Troop Preparations
President Prabowo Subianto is willing to act as a mediator in the Iran war, Sugiono said, in an effort to cool tensions and promote de-escalation.
At the same time, Indonesia is preparing up to 1,000 troops for potential deployment to Gaza under a proposed UN-mandated International Stabilization Force, where it has been offered the role of deputy commander.
Analysis
Indonesia’s pause reflects the limits of middle-power diplomacy during major-power conflict. The Board of Peace was already politically sensitive domestically; the Iran war has further complicated its legitimacy.
Jakarta now faces a balancing act: maintaining its international peacekeeping credentials while protecting its domestic political consensus and long-standing support for Palestine.
If the Iran conflict drags on, Indonesia may find that mediation efforts offer greater diplomatic capital than participation in a U.S.-led initiative increasingly overshadowed by broader regional war.
With information from Reuters.
