Middle East Conflict: Prabowo Stresses the Need to Anticipate Global Impacts

President Prabowo Subianto gathered a cross‑generational group of leaders and party chiefs at the Istana in Jakarta on Tuesday, 3 March, to discuss how global dynamics could affect national stability and to outline the government’s anticipated responses. The four‑hour closed meeting focused on geopolitical developments and the steps prepared to respond to a range of scenarios.

Bahlil Lahadalia, General Chairman of Golkar, said the discussions centred on how to anticipate global events to safeguard the country. ‘We are doing all of this to ensure we can anticipate what happens globally and secure our nation,’ he told reporters at the Istana complex. ‘We, as political parties, understand the position taken by the President, and we are ready with the contingency measures.’

The meeting also covered Indonesia’s position within the Board of Peace (BoP). Almuzzammil Yusuf, General Chairman of the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS), said the decision considered was not without weighing. ‘The explanation, in my view, is the heaviest of the options available, the most likely among those available, not an ideal choice,’ he said. He also noted the Iran–Israel escalation. He added that the government emphasised national readiness, especially regarding food and energy security: ‘In essence, our defence, our readiness to face a crisis. He explained the preparedness of our food supply, our energy, and elite dialogue.’

The president is scheduled to invite all former presidents and vice-presidents to a silaturahmi meeting at Istana Merdeka, Jakarta, on Tuesday night to discuss geopolitics.

Foreign Minister Sugiono said 15 Indonesian citizens in Tehran were prepared for evacuation as the Middle East conflict intensified. He said Prabowo Subianto is ready to take on a mediation role if Iran and the United States wish to open space for talks. The government has begun to prepare steps to evacuate Indonesians from Iran amid the crisis.

Bahlil Lahadalia said the government plans to increase national fuel storage capacity from around 25–26 days to 90 days, or three months.

Surya Paloh, chairman of NasDem, said Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed a foreign policy of non‑alignment and active engagement amid the Middle East escalation.