Donald Trump’s so-called Board of Peace faces a major blow as Indonesia threatens to walk away

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has announced that he’ll pull out of President Donald Trump’s controversial “Board of Peace” if it doesn’t directly benefit Palestinians. This conditional commitment comes as the ongoing Iran war casts a shadow over Indonesia’s involvement and has sparked a lot of discussion domestically.

Subianto, who leads the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, has been facing some heat from Muslim groups at home. According to Reuters, they’ve voiced criticism about his decision to join the board and, more specifically, to provide troops for a Gaza stabilization force. This force was part of a Trump-brokered ceasefire that wrapped up the two-year Israel-Hamas war. The “Board of Peace” also made waves recently when Israel joined as a member. 

The Board of Peace is responsible for overseeing the creation of this international stabilization force, which is authorized by the United Nations Security Council. Indonesia was set to be a leading contributor, with the U.S. commander of the force even stating last month that his deputy would be Indonesian. The stabilization force’s primary role is to help rebuild Palestinian territory.

Iran has become a complication

Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono confirmed that all discussions about the Board of Peace have been put on hold because of the Iran war. A U.S. official echoed this sentiment, confirming that the security situation could indeed affect the timing of troop deployments for the international stabilization force. A Trump administration official mentioned that while some deployment timelines might shift, discussions with Indonesia are still very much ongoing.

Subianto recently gathered leaders of local Islamic groups for a meeting. A government communication office statement from that meeting clarified his stance: he’s in, but with a major caveat. Hanif Alatas of the Islamic Brotherhood Front was quoted in the statement, saying, “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.”

This isn’t just about the Iran war, either. Critics, including the Indonesian Ulema Council, a major clerical body, have been pushing for Indonesia to exit the board entirely. They argue that Indonesia’s participation might actually compromise its long-standing and very public support for the Palestinian cause. It’s a tricky line to walk, balancing international cooperation with deeply held national and religious principles.

On the other hand, Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s largest Muslim group, believes the government could use its position to declare the board’s agenda on hold until there are talks about de-escalation and peace from “the American-Israeli war against Iran.”