Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin Explains Why Indonesia Joined the 'Board of Peace' Formed by Donald Trump
Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin revealed the reasons behind Indonesia’s decision to join the Board of Peace (BoP), an international diplomatic body formed by United States President Donald Trump. According to Sjafrie, the body was deliberately initiated by Trump specifically to help resolve the crisis in Palestine. This was stated by Sjafrie during a working meeting with Commission I of the Indonesian DPR at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, 19 May 2026. He explained that the escalation of tensions in the Middle East had become the trigger for Indonesia’s active involvement in the forum.
What is interesting is that Israel is increasing international pressure related to Gaza. This is what ties us to the BoP. As is known, the BoP is an initiative of the US President to help Palestine in Gaza,” said Sjafrie.
“And we know the casualties that have arisen may be almost 80,000 lives, the casualties in Gaza. This is the effort by the US President to undertake how we conduct efforts to save humanity and politics in Gaza,” he continued.
Sjafrie explained that Indonesia’s position in Trump’s eyes is highly strategic because of its status as the country with the world’s largest Muslim population, plus the strong commitment of President Prabowo Subianto to the humanitarian issue in Gaza. This factor is what led Trump to invite Indonesia specifically to join the BoP.
Nevertheless, Indonesia’s participation was not unconditional. Sjafrie emphasised that President Prabowo had put forward firm prerequisites to protect the position of the Palestinian struggle faction, Hamas, and to halt all forms of military operations that endanger civilians.
“Therefore he was included in the BoP, and together with several Arab countries, Indonesia consulted with the prerequisite that Hamas should be safeguarded in its existence. Then also that there should be no activities involving physical force that could cause casualties in Gaza. This is our note, and this was approved by several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia,” said Sjafrie.
In addition to BoP, the bilateral diplomacy between Prabowo and Trump also led Indonesia into the formation of the International Stabilization Force (ISF).
However, Sjafrie revealed that the implementation of the humanitarian missions of BoP and ISF currently faces major obstacles at the global level. The geopolitics between Washington and Tehran is heating up, causing Trump’s initiative to stall.
“Because the intensity of conflict between America and Iran is still very high, BoP tends to be left behind. Well, since BoP left behind, the ISF is also left behind, even though we in Indonesia, the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces has prepared a composite brigade for geostrategy and geopolitics and the initiative of the US President has not yet received any implementation directive, so to date our ISF is still on standby,” he added. (H-2)
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