Prabowo discusses Gulf escalation and its impact on Indonesia

Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Prabowo Subianto held a 3.5-hour discussion at the Istana Merdeka in Jakarta on the escalation of the Gulf and the wider Middle East conflict and its implications for Indonesia, together with senior figures including former presidents and vice presidents, a former foreign minister, as well as party leaders, on Tuesday night (3/3). Noer Hassan Wirajuda, who attended, explained that Prabowo described the current geopolitical situation, including the impact of Israeli and United States strikes on Iran, Iran’s retaliatory strikes and the escalation in Gulf states. “Discussions (on the situation in Iran, ed.), what are the implications for us, for the world. When the world order is no longer effective and there is no longer any chance for a country that is the victim of military attacks to appeal to anyone, because the UN is not playing a role and the rule-based order is only ‘on paper’ and there is really no coercive power, especially when it concerns the big powers,” Hassan said at a press conference after the agenda at the Presidential Palace (Istana Kepresidenan RI) in Jakarta, Tuesday night. Hassan continued that President Prabowo then invited all figures to think about how Indonesia positions itself, considering the implications of escalation in the Gulf not only for security and world peace, but also for the economy. In the same opportunity, Hassan also revealed the discussion included considering the possibility of a prolonged war in the Gulf region, regardless of U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s statement that the war would last for a few days. “If for example America would deploy ground troops, the war could last longer and the response of opposition around Middle East countries would also expand, and therefore the war would continue longer,” Hassan said. Hassan assessed that the impact of escalation in the Gulf is faced not only by Indonesia, but also by many countries. In the meeting, attendees and discussants included the 6th President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the 7th President Joko Widodo, the 10th and 12th Vice Presidents Jusuf Kalla, the 11th Vice President Boediono, and the 13th Vice President KH Ma’ruf Amin. There were also chairmen of political parties with representation in the DPR RI, representatives from the business community, as well as ministers of the Merah Putih Cabinet and leaders of state institutions.