After Meeting JK, ICWA Calls on Government to Withdraw from BoP
The Chairman of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Council on World Affairs (ICWA), Al Busyra Basnur, has called on the Indonesian government to withdraw from the Board of Peace (BoP) established by US President Donald Trump. One of his key considerations is that the United States attacked Iran just ten days after the BoP was formed.
“The government must carefully review and decide to withdraw from the BoP,” he said following a meeting with former Vice President Jusuf Kalla in South Jakarta on Thursday, 12 March 2026.
The former Indonesian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Djibouti and the African Union stated that the BoP has sparked controversy both domestically and internationally. The controversy relates to membership fees and evaluation mechanisms. Indonesia’s participation in the BoP has even been questioned by government circles.
In recent developments, Busyra noted that the United States has attacked Iran. For this reason, ICWA is urging the government to withdraw from the BoP.
On the same occasion, Jusuf Kalla argued that Indonesia would have no problem withdrawing from the BoP. Donald Trump, he said, could threaten countries that withdraw, including Indonesia, by raising reciprocal tariffs.
However, Jusuf Kalla reminded that the US Supreme Court has ruled that reciprocal tariffs cannot exceed a maximum of 15 per cent.
“Do not forget that the US Supreme Court has already decided the maximum cannot be 15 per cent. So even if people withdraw, there is nothing to it. Of course, in terms of relations with America for us, it is not a problem,” he said at his residence in South Jakarta on Thursday, 12 March 2026, following meetings with several former ambassadors.
As someone outside the government, this senior Golkar Party politician felt there would be no problem if the Indonesian government withdrew from the BoP. However, government leaders need to give careful consideration.
Kalla acknowledged that the BoP initially had good intentions to resolve the Palestinian conflict. However, he criticised the US action in attacking Iran, particularly given that the BoP was only signed ten days ago.
He expressed hope that the BoP could bring peace. President Prabowo Subianto, according to Jusuf Kalla, has already stated that Indonesia will withdraw from the BoP if it does not align with its objectives. “Let us hold to that,” he said.
The Foreign Ministry stated that Indonesia is suspending discussions relating to the BoP following the escalation of conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel this month. The government has chosen to postpone the matter amid mounting tensions in the Middle East.
The Foreign Ministry said the government’s current focus is to monitor developments in the conflict and ensure the safety of Indonesian citizens in the region.