Prabowo: Indonesia Never Committed to Contributing Rp17 Trillion to BoP

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has emphasised that Indonesia has never promised or committed to donating $1 billion (approximately Rp17 trillion) to the Peace Council or Board of Peace (BoP) championed by US President Donald Trump. “So, we never said that we wanted to contribute $1 billion,” Prabowo stated in an interview, according to information received in Jakarta on Sunday. The President also stressed that no financial commitments whatsoever were ever promised to the United States regarding Indonesia’s participation in the BoP. This is evident from Indonesia’s absence from the previous founding donors’ meeting. “No, never. The meeting in Washington on 19 February was a founding donors’ meeting. They each contributed, some possibly more, but Indonesia was not there. Because from the start, when asked, I did not commit to any money at all,” Prabowo asserted. The President conveyed that Indonesia is ready to be part of the peace council but only through contributions of peacekeeping forces to protect Gaza residents, not funds. “We have stated our readiness to send peacekeeping troops as needed,” he said. Nevertheless, Prabowo indicated that the government will continue to monitor future developments, and once Gaza’s reconstruction can begin, Indonesia’s potential contributions will be considered. “If the ceasefire succeeds and reconstruction starts, it’s not impossible for Indonesia to participate. We have Baznas, and previously we have built hospitals and provided various other aid there,” he explained. However, Prabowo reiterated that there is no commitment to paying membership fees as a BoP member. “There is no commitment at all,” the President said. Previously, a Bloomberg report on Sunday (18/1) cited the draft charter of the council, stating that Donald Trump requires a $1 billion payment to the Peace Council for countries to become permanent members of the organisation. Each member country of the Peace Council receives a participation quota for three years from the effective date of the Peace Council Charter, with the possibility of extension by the Council Chairman, Donald Trump. However, the three-year membership limit does not apply to “member countries that contribute cash funds exceeding $1 billion to the Peace Council in the first year since this charter takes effect,” as stated in another section of the draft document.