Indonesia pauses discussions on Board of Peace amid Iran conflict

Prabowo holds rare late-night briefing with senior leaders as tensions rise in Middle East

- Arlina Arshad Indonesia Bureau Chief

Indonesia's discussions related to the Board of Peace (BOP) are currently on hold as attention has shifted to the conflict involving Iran, even as President Prabowo Subianto defended the country's participation in the board.

"All discussions related to the Board of Peace are on hold," Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono told reporters on March 3, after Mr Prabowo held a rare late-night briefing with former presidents and senior political leaders amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Mr Sugiono added that Indonesia continues "to consult with our partners, including colleagues in the Gulf, as they have also been affected by attacks and are members of the board". He did not give details on what Indonesia's discussions on the BOP entail.

The BOP is an initiative started by US President Donald Trump to address the situation in Gaza. Indonesia has pledged to send up to 8,000 peacekeeping troops as part of a proposed multinational stabilisation force under the BOP.

Indonesia's involvement in the BOP has faced domestic scrutiny, including from the country's highest Islamic authority, the Indonesian Ulema Council. In a statement on March 1, the council urged the government to withdraw from the forum, arguing that it was ineffective in advancing "genuine independence" for Palestine.

The March 3 briefing was attended by former presidents Joko Widodo and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former vice-presidents including Ma'ruf Amin and Jusuf Kalla, as well as ministers and political party leaders. Mr Prabowo did not address the public, and all remarks about the discussion came from participants.