Prabowo Clarifies He Never Promised US$1 Billion Contribution to Board of Peace

President Prabowo Subianto has stated that he never promised to pay a US$1 billion (approximately Rp17 trillion) contribution to the Board of Peace (BoP) or Peace Council—an international body created by United States President Donald Trump. According to Prabowo, Indonesia is only committed to sending soldiers to the Gaza Strip through the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) under the command of the Peace Council.

Prabowo explained this during an interview session with several journalists and experts at his private residence in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java. The question-and-answer session took place on Wednesday evening, 18 March 2026, until the early hours of Thursday, 19 March 2026.

President Prabowo emphasised that there has been no financial commitment whatsoever promised to the United States regarding Indonesia’s participation in the Peace Council. “We never said that we wanted to contribute US$1 billion,” Prabowo stated, as quoted from an interview video shared by the Presidential Secretariat on Sunday, 22 March 2026.

According to Prabowo, this can be seen from Indonesia’s absence at the founding donors’ meeting held in Washington D.C. on 19 February. “They each contributed, some perhaps even more. But Indonesia was not there. When asked, I did not commit to any money at all,” Prabowo remarked.

Prabowo further emphasised that Indonesia is ready to be part of the Peace Council through contributions of peacekeeping troops, not funds. According to the Chairman of the Gerindra Party, Indonesia’s commitment to the organisation involves sending soldiers as needed. “We said we are ready for peacekeeping forces, whatever is requested,” Prabowo said.

Nevertheless, Prabowo continued, Indonesia will consider financial commitments if a ceasefire is achieved and Gaza’s reconstruction has begun. He explained that Indonesia does not rule out the possibility of donating funds for Gaza’s development. “We have Baznas (National Zakat Agency), and previously we have also built hospitals and provided various other aid there,” Prabowo stated.

He nonetheless reaffirmed that there is no commitment to pay membership fees to the Peace Council. “There is no commitment at all,” Prabowo remarked.