Prabowo Attends Inaugural Board of Peace Meeting as Puan Stresses Free and Active Foreign Policy
Jakarta, VIVA – Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani has urged that Indonesia's position on the Board of Peace (BoP), established to oversee post-conflict stabilisation and rehabilitation in Gaza, must be grounded in the nation's free and active foreign policy doctrine.
Puan made the remarks during a plenary session held at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
"Indonesia's leadership of the UN Human Rights Council and its participation in the Board of Peace must remain grounded in a free and active foreign policy, upholding the principle of sovereign equality," Puan said.
Puan noted that today's international cooperation framework is built upon shared norms and commitments, ranging from economic standards that measure competitiveness and sustainability, to social values that uphold human dignity, and democratic principles and human rights as the foundations of civilised politics.
"In this context, development is not merely measured by growth in numbers, but by the quality of human life and the social justice felt by the people," Puan said.
"Because we live in an interdependent world, Indonesia must strengthen its national resilience and competitiveness to secure a strong bargaining position in the global order," she added.
Puan explained that the beginning of 2026 has been marked by rising tensions in international relations, both in the form of armed conflicts and an escalation of trade wars disrupting supply chains and slowing global economic growth.
"The government must optimise Indonesia's strategic position as President of the UN Human Rights Council and within the Board of Peace to make a meaningful contribution to resolving the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to advance the realisation of Palestinian independence," Puan stressed.
According to Puan, this aligns with the UN Charter and the mandate of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, under which Indonesia participates in establishing world order based on independence, lasting peace, and social justice.
"This principle ensures that Indonesia's diplomacy is not merely symbolic, but stands firmly on sovereignty, equality, and respect for international law," Puan said.
President Prabowo Subianto was scheduled to meet United States President Donald Trump on the same day. Prabowo and Trump were set to sign a bilateral trade tariff agreement between Indonesia and the United States.
Puan made the remarks during a plenary session held at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
"Indonesia's leadership of the UN Human Rights Council and its participation in the Board of Peace must remain grounded in a free and active foreign policy, upholding the principle of sovereign equality," Puan said.
Puan noted that today's international cooperation framework is built upon shared norms and commitments, ranging from economic standards that measure competitiveness and sustainability, to social values that uphold human dignity, and democratic principles and human rights as the foundations of civilised politics.
"In this context, development is not merely measured by growth in numbers, but by the quality of human life and the social justice felt by the people," Puan said.
"Because we live in an interdependent world, Indonesia must strengthen its national resilience and competitiveness to secure a strong bargaining position in the global order," she added.
Puan explained that the beginning of 2026 has been marked by rising tensions in international relations, both in the form of armed conflicts and an escalation of trade wars disrupting supply chains and slowing global economic growth.
"The government must optimise Indonesia's strategic position as President of the UN Human Rights Council and within the Board of Peace to make a meaningful contribution to resolving the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to advance the realisation of Palestinian independence," Puan stressed.
According to Puan, this aligns with the UN Charter and the mandate of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, under which Indonesia participates in establishing world order based on independence, lasting peace, and social justice.
"This principle ensures that Indonesia's diplomacy is not merely symbolic, but stands firmly on sovereignty, equality, and respect for international law," Puan said.
President Prabowo Subianto was scheduled to meet United States President Donald Trump on the same day. Prabowo and Trump were set to sign a bilateral trade tariff agreement between Indonesia and the United States.