Foreign Ministry Asserts Indonesian Troop Withdrawal from UNIFIL Must Undergo Thorough Consideration

The Indonesian government faces a policy dilemma with no truly comfortable options. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) of the Republic of Indonesia has asserted that decisions regarding the involvement of TNI personnel in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) cannot be made hastily, including discussions on troop withdrawal. Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yvonne Mewengkang, stated that Indonesia’s engagement in the mission is part of a strong global commitment to maintaining world peace and security. “Therefore, various decisions related to this issue, including proposals for withdrawal, must undergo very thorough consideration, both in terms of personnel safety, the relevance of the UNIFIL mandate, and Indonesia’s contribution to regional stability,” Yvonne said during a media briefing in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4). She explained that UNIFIL operations are conducted under a mandate from the UN Security Council, with implementation coordinated by the United Nations Secretariat. As one of the troop-contributing countries, Indonesia, along with others, continues intensive coordination with the UN, including obtaining updates on security situations and personnel safety in the field. Therefore, every policy or change regarding Indonesia’s troop participation in UNIFIL will be taken carefully, considering factual conditions on the ground and aspects of soldier safety. Yvonne also emphasised that the protection of TNI personnel serving in Lebanon remains the Indonesian government’s top priority. On the other hand, Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly, Ahmad Muzani, has urged the government to consider the option of withdrawing peacekeeping troops from Lebanon, especially if the security situation is no longer guaranteed for Indonesian soldiers. According to Muzani, in his statement at the Senayan parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (31/3), such a step aligns with the constitutional mandate requiring the state to protect every citizen. To date, three TNI soldiers have been killed and eight others injured due to three separate attack incidents while carrying out the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon.