Indonesia-US Trade Agreement: YLBHI Claims Prabowo Violated the Constitution

The Chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Muhammad Isnur, stated that President Prabowo Subianto had violated the constitution when he signed reciprocal trade agreements between Indonesia and the United States, as well as established the Board of Peace. Prabowo signed the agreement on reciprocal trade (ART) between Indonesia and the United States on February 19th and signed the charter of the Board of Peace on January 22nd, 2026.

Isnur explained that Article 11 of the 1945 Constitution mandates that the President must obtain approval from the House of Representatives when making agreements with other countries. Article 11, paragraph (2) states, “The President, in making other international agreements that have broad and fundamental consequences for the life of the people related to the state’s financial burden, and/or require changes or the formation of laws, must do so with the approval of the House of Representatives.”

“This includes the Board of Peace and trade agreements, without discussion or approval from the DPR, clearly the President is violating the constitution,” said Isnur during a public discussion held by the Civil Society Coalition, which was broadcast via YouTube Imparsial on Wednesday, February 25th, 2026.

Isnur also specifically criticized the plan to send Indonesian National Army troops to the Gaza Strip through the International Stabilization Force (ISF). According to Isnur, if Indonesia, as a member state of the United Nations, wants to send peacekeeping troops, then this step must be based on a mandate from the UN Security Council.

According to Isnur, the deployment of personnel to maintain peace in conflict areas should also refer to Presidential Regulation Number 85 of 2011 concerning the Mission Coordination Team for Peacekeeping Operations.

Isnur emphasized that the decision to deploy Indonesian military personnel to the Gaza Strip must be made through a special request from the UN and then discussed with the DPR. In addition, the deployment must also consider various laws, such as the State Defense Law and the TNI Law.

Isnur stated that these agreements are contrary to the principle of Indonesia as a non-aligned country that is actively free. He believes that through the ART agreement and the Board of Peace, Indonesia is actually taking part in the American bloc and is under the control of US President Donald Trump. “Indonesia is clearly becoming a political and trade bloc allied with America, and this clearly compromises its sovereignty,” said Isnur.