JK: Indonesia Should Visit Trump to End the War
Former Indonesian vice presidents Jusuf Kalla, also known as JK, who served as the 10th and 12th vice presidents, urged the government to play a more active role in damping the rising geopolitics in the Middle East. He said that in responding to the conflict involving major powers, Indonesia should show moral allegiance by expressing sympathy to the oppressed, particularly in the open confrontation between the United States, Israel and Iran that is currently ongoing.
“Yes, in terms of the state of the country and the policies, we hope to express sympathy to Iran,” JK said after delivering a sermon at the UGM Mosque in Yogyakarta on Thursday night, 5 March 2026.
Although JK appreciated the government’s good intentions to take a role on the international stage, he offered a realistic note regarding diplomacy amid a war. He noted that reconciling two parties that are engaged in armed contact is not easy.
JK emphasised that the main key to diplomacy today is not only broad communication, but the courage to go to the source of the attack. He specifically said that Indonesia’s diplomatic visit should be directed to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, given the United States’ position as the aggressor.
“If one wants to reconcile in a situation that is already at war, it is not easy. The one who must be visited (the President) Trump, because he (was the first to) attack,” said JK.
Furthermore, JK also urged the Indonesian government to continue optimising the role of international peace instruments concretely through the Board of Peace or BoP mechanism, in which Indonesia participates. He urged the government to actively use that instrument as a way out to create peace in the Middle East.
On Tuesday, 3 March 2026, JK also attended a meeting convened by President Prabowo Subianto with several former presidents and vice presidents to discuss the dynamics of the conflict in the Middle East.
In that meeting, according to JK, they discussed the stance and policies that the government would take in response to the situation in the Middle East. JK said that at present it is equally important to pursue and collectively pray for tensions in the Middle East to subside. “Especially how Iran can be safe, can be at peace, also the wars in Palestine and Afghanistan can stop all,” he said.