Indonesia warns it may quit Board of Peace if Palestinian independence not advanced
SINGAPORE — Indonesian officials and diplomatic figures have said Jakarta may withdraw from the US-backed “Board of Peace” if the initiative fails to advance core objectives, including Palestinian independence, after the government faced domestic criticism over joining the new platform.
Foreign Minister Sugiono said Indonesia would leave the Board of Peace if its goals were not achieved, describing Palestinian statehood as the primary benchmark for Jakarta’s participation. He made the remarks after a Feb. 3 meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta between President Prabowo Subianto and leaders of major Islamic mass organisations.
Board of Peace and Indonesia’s conditions
Sugiono said Indonesia’s participation is tied to progress toward peace in Gaza and Palestine, with independence and sovereignty for Palestine as the central aim. He also said the Board of Peace had yet to take full shape, noting that operational details such as its office and secretariat were still being worked out.
Prabowo signed the Board of Peace charter on Jan. 22 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, alongside US President Donald Trump, according to official statements and reporting on the signing ceremony.
Domestic sensitivities and consultations in Jakarta
The comments followed a two-day round of engagements by Prabowo with political, religious and foreign policy stakeholders aimed at clarifying Indonesia’s stance and addressing concerns over the country’s involvement in the initiative.
The Feb. 3 palace meeting included representatives from major organisations such as Muhammadiyah, Nahdlatul Ulama and the Indonesian Ulema Council, with more than 50 participants attending, according to reporting on the discussions.
Indonesian officials have framed the country’s participation as a way to push for outcomes aligned with long-standing Indonesian policy backing a two-state solution and Palestinian self-determination, while signalling that Jakarta would not remain engaged if the platform diverged from those aims.
Uncertainty around the initiative
Internationally, Trump’s Board of Peace has drawn scrutiny over its scope and governance, with some observers questioning how it would operate alongside existing multilateral mechanisms.
Indonesia has not announced any immediate change in its participation, but officials’ remarks suggest Jakarta is seeking to balance domestic expectations with its stated goal of using the platform to advance Palestinian statehood.
