Rising US–Iran Conflict Escalation, Idrus Marham Urges Government to Take a Firm Stance

Jakarta – The deputy chairman of the Golkar Party, Idrus Marham, has urged the government to take a firm stance in response to the escalating conflict between the United States (US) and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other. The United States briefly launched strikes against Iran, killing its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. That stance is important as a reaffirmation of Indonesia’s foreign policy position, and also as a diplomatic warning about Indonesia’s involvement in the Board of Peace (BoP) forum established by US President Donald Trump. This stance shows Indonesia’s consistency in upholding the principle of bebas aktif, a doctrine that from its inception has positioned Indonesia as a diplomatic power among global blocs with competing interests. “A firm statement of disagreement with the attack is important to reinforce our foreign policy principles. However, disagreement does not necessarily mean we should withdraw from international forums,” Idrus said in a statement on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. Meanwhile, regarding the possibility of Indonesia leaving the Board of Peace (BoP), he said it is not a difficult matter. But such a move would not contribute to a conducive direction for resolving the conflict. “Indonesia clearly does not join the BoP with the intention of merely attending without a stance! Indonesia does not intend to simply sit in the stands idly by. At the same time, total absence, or choosing to exit, would be too spontaneous and would close off the space for influence that has been painstakingly built.” He added that Indonesia, as the world’s largest Muslim-majority country and a member of the G20, should capitalise on that legitimacy to turn every international forum into a platform for the struggle, not merely a stage for emotional diplomacy. Idrus emphasised that Indonesia’s foreign policy strategy must remain anchored in constitutional values, particularly the mandate of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, the Bandung Principles, and the bebas aktif doctrine. In this context, Indonesia must not be drawn into the conflict, but must not remain silent against violations of humanitarian principles and international law. Idrus explained that the basic principle of Indonesia’s involvement in BoP from the outset has been to strengthen diplomatic channels to resolve humanitarian issues. Therefore, in his view, the strike by the US and Israel is diametrically opposed to the forum’s objectives.