Prabowo Discusses Iran–US War, Indonesia on Alert to Assess Energy Impacts
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister for 2001-2009 Noer Hassan Wirajuda assessed that the escalation of the United States and Israel’s attacks on Iran underscored the fragility of a rules-based international order. In a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto, he said the current state of world affairs places many countries, including Indonesia, in a dilemmas-filled position.
“Briefing on the latest developments around the world, especially those concerning the war, that is, the United States and Israel’s attacks on Iran. We discussed the implications for us and the world,” he said.
Wirajuda highlighted that global mechanisms were no longer effective, and room for countries subjected to military aggression to seek justice was narrowing. “Because the UN no longer plays its role and the rules-based order is only on paper, and there is no coercive power—especially when it concerns big powers,” he said.
In the discussion, Prabowo described the geopolitical challenges as increasingly complex. Indonesia must navigate competing interests amid many reefs, Wirajuda added.
Wirajuda said the government was calculating multiple scenarios, from impacts on energy supply to the duration of the conflict. Trump’s statements that the war would last a few days, he noted, have shifted to weeks and possibly longer if a ground operation were launched. “We are calculating all the effects on us from that perspective, but also how long the war might last; it seems Trump talked of a few days, now weeks, and ground forces could extend the conflict, with resistance in nearby Middle Eastern countries growing,” he said.
Wirajuda reminded that the Gulf region has hosted major wars three times in three decades, from the Iraq–Kuwait war during President George H.W. Bush, to the 2003 Iraq invasion by George W. Bush, and now this latest conflict. He described the region as tragic: a source of the world’s energy and a theatre of war. “This is the third time. It is tragic that this region has become a theatre of major wars with far-reaching impacts on the world because much of the oil and gas originates there. We must take that into account,” he said.
Regarding Indonesia’s potential role as mediator, Wirajuda stressed the main condition is trust from both disputing sides. “To be a mediator you must be trusted by both sides. We’re not discussing whether Indonesia can do it or not. That is the initial thought. In other words, for Indonesia to become a mediator there must also be acceptance from the two sides. We have not seen signs of that,” he added.
As for Indonesia’s BoP position, it was revisited in light of the latest escalation. “We discuss it, but also in light of the latest developments. Will the ongoing war weaken the BoP’s position and mandate? We will recalculate from that perspective,” he concluded. (Z-10)
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