Middle East Conflict Escalation: Government Still 'On Hold' on Board of Peace Mechanism

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has decided to suspend or place in ‘on hold’ status all discussions regarding participation in the Board of Peace (BoP) mechanism, in line with a comprehensive assessment of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Diplomatic focus is fully redirected toward ensuring the safety of Indonesian citizens and preparing preventative steps in the face of the intensifying US-Israel vs Iran confrontation.

‘As conveyed by the Foreign Minister a few days ago, all discussions about the Board of Peace (BoP) are currently suspended or, in other words, on hold,’ said the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Yvonne Mewengkang, to reporters.

Ms Mewengkang stressed that in the past week there have been no meetings or specific discussions concerning the BoP. Any decision regarding Indonesia’s participation in international mechanisms will always be grounded in the principles of an independent, active foreign policy, national interests tailored to developments on the ground.

‘Concurrently, the Director-General for Asia-Pacific and Africa at the Foreign Ministry, Santo Darmosumarto, provided a perspective on Indonesia’s position as a mediator. He stated that President Prabowo Subianto’s willingness to act as an intermediary or ’honest broker’ would depend on requests from the parties in conflict.

‘Indonesia stands ready if it is indeed needed by Middle Eastern states, but the details must be discussed with all involved parties,’ Santo explained. (H-3)