Foreign Ministry: No dedicated BoP discussions in the past week
The Foreign Ministry has stressed that discussions on the Board of Peace (Dewan Perdamaian) have been suspended in response to the escalating conflict between the United States-Israel and Iran in Western Asia. The tensions in the region, particularly the Gulf, intensified after the United States and Israel launched a surprise joint strike against Iran. Iran then retaliated by attacking Israel and United States military bases in Gulf states.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang, at a press briefing on Friday, 6 March 2026, said Indonesia is continuing to monitor developments in the conflict zone. Indonesia is also prioritising the protection of Indonesian citizens (WNI) and maintaining national security and stability.
“There have been no meetings or special discussions related to BoP in the past week,” Yvonne said, as quoted from a written statement on Saturday, 7 March 2026.
She emphasised that all discussions about the Board of Peace are currently on hold. Indonesia’s diplomatic focus, according to Yvonne, is to ensure the safety and protection of Indonesian citizens in the affected areas and to prepare anticipatory steps in dealing with the escalation.
Yvonne then stressed that any decisions regarding Indonesia’s participation in various international mechanisms will be based on a foreign policy that is free and active, and on domestic interests.
Indonesia, she claimed, has consistently aligned itself with humanitarian values and the Palestinian independence movement. Therefore, the government will continue to seek the most effective ways and play a constructive role in various international fora, to drive for a just and lasting peace for the Palestinian people.
Yvonne’s explanation reinforces statements by Foreign Minister Sugiono several days earlier. Sugiono revealed that discussions within the Board of Peace were temporarily halted as the conflict in Western Asia escalated. “Now all BoP discussions are on hold, yes. All attention has shifted to the Iran situation,” he said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday evening, 3 March 2026.
Pressure for Indonesia to withdraw from membership of the Board of Peace has been raised by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), universities, academics, and students. MUI’s guidance in a letter numbered Kep-28/DP-MUI/III/2026, for example, urged the government to revoke membership of the Board of Peace.
The reason: the Board of Peace is not effective in realising true independence for Palestine. This view is reinforced by Donald Trump’s stance, who reportedly carried out an attack together with Israel on Iranian territory.