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View all search resultsTroubled Board of Peace
Indonesia’s membership in the pro-Israel Board of Peace is by no means a masterstroke of diplomacy; it is a billion-dollar betrayal of the Palestinian cause.
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A protester holds a poster on March 6, 2026, during a demonstration against the Board of Peace (BoP) outside the Senayan Legislative Complex, Central Jakarta. An alliance of students and civil society groups demonstrated against the United States and Israel strikes on Iran, saying they violate international law and global peace, and urged the government to review Indonesia’s agreement in the BoP since it does not align with the United Nations Security Council mandate. (JP/Iqro Rinaldi)
P
resident Prabowo Subianto denied last week that he had promised to pay US$1 billion, a mandatory contribution to United States President Donald Trump's Board of Peace (BoP). However, this denial does not necessarily mean Indonesia will not pay, the public expects Prabowo to follow through on his earlier assurance that he would never make such a payment.
Social media platforms have been preoccupied with protests and objections from Indonesians since reports emerged that Indonesia had agreed to the payment to remain a permanent member of the forum. In comparison, the US is slated to pay $5 billion.
While Prabowo himself has not commented on the financial report, his administration appears to be moving forward. Foreign Minister Sugiono stated that Indonesia could pay its obligations in installments, while Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa disclosed that the Defense Ministry would use its own budget to meet the financial obligation.
Because his own ministers have confirmed the payment plan, we must remind the President that many Indonesians oppose Indonesia’s BoP membership. For them, it represents a betrayal of the Palestinian people, whose fight for independence Indonesia has long supported.
The $1 billion contribution is difficult to justify. First, paying such a massive sum simply to secure permanent member status is illogical. Second, it is totally unacceptable that Trump would have the freedom to use this money as he wishes, especially when tens of millions of Indonesians still live below the poverty line.
Prabowo has devoted excessive time and resources to approaching Trump since taking power in October 2024. The President certainly has reasons for this intensive approach, such as avoiding the unilateral trade tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. However, thus far, the gains from the US do not compare to the economic and political sacrifices Indonesia has been forced to make.
The situation shifted after the US Supreme Court vetoed Trump's trade policy, leading Trump to lower tariffs on Indonesian imports from 32 percent to 19 percent. Yet, there is no guarantee Trump will honor this commitment if his mood changes.
