'Tough man' Prabowo shines at Gaza peace summit, earning more praise from Trump

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has found himself at the centre of global attention — and domestic debate — at the Gaza peace summit in Egypt, a high-level gathering aimed at ending hostilities and planning reconstruction in the war-torn enclave.

- Arlina Arshad Indonesia Bureau Chief

Under flashing camera lights at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Oct 13, US President Donald Trump greeted him with a grin, saying: “I see a tough man right here.” The two leaders shook hands and briefly posed for photographers, thumbs raised.

More than 20 world leaders attended the summit, co-chaired by Mr Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend, citing the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.

For Indonesia, the summit represented a significant diplomatic milestone. Mr Prabowo was the only Southeast Asian leader in attendance, underscoring Jakarta’s growing visibility in a region traditionally dominated by Western and Middle Eastern powers.

The presidential palace described the event as “a historic milestone and an important step towards stability and peace in the Middle East”. It added that Indonesia’s participation reflected its “consistent support for peace efforts and humanitarian diplomacy” and reaffirmed Jakarta’s commitment to “building a just and civilised world order”.

The statement further noted that Indonesia’s participation “demonstrates the country’s consistent support for peace and humanity at the global level”.

Just weeks earlier, on Sept 23, Mr Trump had publicly lauded Mr Prabowo at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for a speech that drew attention for its boldness and clarity on Palestinian statehood. “A great speech. You did a great job pounding on that table. You did a great job,” Mr Trump said.