JAKARTA: Discussions on the U.S.-proposed “Board of Peace” have been put on hold due to the ongoing Iran war, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono said on Tuesday.
Speaking in Jakarta, Sugiono said all attention had shifted to developments in Iran following the U.S. and Israeli air strikes, which have caused civilian casualties, disrupted global air travel and pushed oil prices higher amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Indonesia is a key troop-contributing member of the board, first proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in September as part of a plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza. The initiative was later expanded to address other global conflicts typically handled by the United Nations.
Sugiono said Jakarta would also consult Gulf partners affected by the conflict. His remarks came amid growing domestic criticism over Indonesia’s participation in the board, with some experts and Muslim groups arguing it could undermine the country’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause. Indonesia continues to back a two-state solution.
The Indonesian Ulema Council has urged the government to withdraw from the board, saying recent attacks on Iran have weakened the initiative’s credibility. Meanwhile, Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s largest Muslim organisation, has called on Jakarta to use its position to push Israel and the United States to end the violence.
Sugiono added that President Prabowo Subianto is willing to act as a mediator to help de-escalate tensions in the region.
Indonesia is also preparing 1,000 troops for potential deployment to Gaza by early April as part of a proposed UN-mandated International Stabilization Force, where it has been assigned the deputy commander role.
