Indonesia Suspends Board of Peace Discussions Following US-Israel Attacks on Iran

Introduction

Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that all discussions regarding the Board of Peace (BoP) have been suspended indefinitely following the US-Israeli military attacks on Iran that began on February 28, 2026. The announcement comes as civil society organizations and religious groups demand Indonesia’s complete withdrawal from the organization.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang confirmed on Friday, March 6, 2026, that all BoP-related discussions are now “on hold” as the government focuses on protecting Indonesian citizens affected by the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The Announcement

Foreign Ministry Statement

Speaking at a press briefing in Jakarta on Friday, Yvonne Mewengkang stated:

“As conveyed by the Foreign Minister several days ago, all discussions about the BoP are currently suspended or, in other words, ‘on hold’.”

The spokesperson emphasized that the government’s current diplomatic focus is:

Ensuring the safety of Indonesian citizens in conflict-affected regions
Preparing anticipatory measures for potential escalation impacts
Monitoring developments in the Iran conflict and regional dynamics

No Recent BoP Discussions

According to the Foreign Ministry, there have been no BoP-related discussions in the past week. The focus has shifted entirely to citizen protection and crisis management.

The announcement came just days after Foreign Minister Sugiono had first mentioned the suspension in earlier statements.

Reasons for the Suspension

Escalating Middle East Conflict

The primary reason for suspending BoP discussions is the dramatic escalation of conflict in the Middle East:

February 28, 2026: US and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed along with family members
Senior military officials killed, including IRGC Commander and Defense Minister
Iran’s retaliation: Missile and drone attacks on Israel and US bases across the region
Regional spillover: Attacks on Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait

Public Pressure

The government has also faced intense domestic pressure over its BoP membership:

Civil society coalition launched a petition demanding withdrawal
Religious organizations including MUI and Muhammadiyah called for exit
Academics and activists criticized Indonesia’s participation
Social media campaigns highlighting the contradiction of “peace” board members waging war

Policy Priorities

The Foreign Ministry emphasized that Indonesia’s participation in any international mechanism will be based on:

National interest (kepentingan nasional)
Free and active foreign policy principles (politik luar negeri bebas-aktif)
Current situation dynamics on the ground

What Is the Board of Peace?

Formation and Purpose

The Board of Peace (BoP) or Dewan Perdamaian was announced by US President Donald Trump as a mechanism to:

Create “lasting peace” in the Middle East
Oversee reconstruction and stabilization efforts
Coordinate international support for peace initiatives
Focus particularly on the Palestinian situation

Indonesia’s Participation

Indonesia joined the BoP during President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, with the stated goals of:

Supporting Palestinian stabilization and reconstruction
Contributing to regional peace efforts
Maintaining Indonesia’s role in international diplomacy
Upholding commitment to Palestinian independence

Controversial Composition

Critics have pointed out problematic aspects of BoP membership:

US serves as BoP Chair and initiator
Israel is a member of the organization
Both nations attacked Iran while serving on a “peace” board
Contradiction highlighted by civil society groups

Civil Society Response: “Board of War”

The Petition

A coalition of civil society organizations launched a petition calling for Indonesia’s withdrawal from BoP. Key points include:

Signatories:

More than 60 prominent figures
70 civil society organizations
Academics, cultural figures, and activists

Key Arguments:

US-Israel attacks on Iran violated international law (UN Charter)
Actions undermine world peace
BoP has transformed into “Board of War”
Indonesia should not participate in an organization whose leaders wage war

Renaming to “Board of War”

The petition explicitly renamed the organization:

“We assess that the US-Israel attack on Iran has violated international law (UN Charter) and damaged world peace. Thus, the Board of Peace has transformed into a ‘Board of War’ because the BoP, chaired and dominated by Donald Trump, has launched military attacks on Iran.”

This statement was delivered by Hendardi, Chairman of the National Council of SETARA Institute, on Sunday evening, March 1, 2026.

Five Demands

The civil society coalition made five specific demands:

Indonesia withdraw from BoP immediately
Suspend or cancel trade agreements with the United States
Cancel plans to send TNI troops to Gaza
Condemn US-Israel aggression against Iran
Support Iran’s right to self-defense under international law

Religious Organizations’ Position

Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI)

Indonesia’s largest Islamic clerical body called for Indonesia to exit the BoP, arguing that:

Participation contradicts Islamic principles of justice
The organization has failed to promote genuine peace
Member nations are actively waging war

Muhammadiyah

One of Indonesia’s largest Islamic organizations also demanded withdrawal:

BoP membership harms Indonesia’s moral standing
The organization has become a tool of Western interests
Indonesia should prioritize independent diplomacy

Other Organizations

Additional organizations calling for withdrawal include:

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) components
Islamic student organizations
Human rights groups
Anti-war coalitions

Political Responses

President Prabowo’s Position

According to sources within the administration:

President Prabowo “appreciates” public input and criticism
He is “ready to evaluate” Indonesia’s BoP membership
No immediate decision on permanent withdrawal has been made
Focus remains on citizen safety during the crisis

DPR (Parliament) Members

Several members of parliament have weighed in:

Some demand immediate withdrawal
Others call for ratification of any membership through DPR
Constitutional questions about how membership was approved
Warnings about diplomatic consequences of staying or leaving

Constitutional Law Experts

Legal scholars have raised questions:

Hikmahanto Juwana: BoP membership should require DPR ratification, “hopefully rejected”
Jimly Asshiddiqie: Suggests suspending BoP obligations until Iran is safe and Israel recognizes Palestine
MPR Chairman: Outlined requirements if Indonesia chooses to withdraw

International Context

US Position on BoP

President Trump’s administration has:

Insisted BoP remains focused on Middle East peace
Continued attacks on Iran while chairing the organization
Rejected criticism of the apparent contradiction
Demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender”

Other BoP Members

The organization includes multiple nations, but:

Many members have not publicly commented on the Iran attacks
Some European members have expressed concerns privately
Gulf states are dealing with Iranian retaliation
The organization’s credibility has been severely damaged

Indonesia’s Diplomatic Position

Indonesia has attempted to:

Offer mediation between parties
Maintain relationships with all sides
Protect citizens in conflict zones
Balance competing pressures

Impact on Indonesian Citizens

Citizens in the Middle East

The Foreign Ministry is focusing on protecting Indonesians in:

Iran: Approximately 400 Indonesian citizens
Israel/Palestine: Limited numbers, mostly in Palestinian territories
Gulf States: Significant Indonesian worker populations
Lebanon: Indonesian UN peacekeeping troops

Evacuation Preparations

The government has:

Prepared evacuation plans if needed
Established communication channels with citizens
Coordinated with friendly nations for assistance
Advised against non-essential travel to the region

Umrah and Hajj

The Foreign Ministry has advised Indonesians to:

Postpone Umrah pilgrimages during the conflict
Monitor developments before Hajj season
Follow official government guidance

What Comes Next

Short-term Outlook

In the immediate future:

BoP discussions remain suspended
Focus stays on citizen protection
Monitoring of conflict developments continues
Domestic pressure likely to intensify

Medium-term Considerations

Decisions Indonesia may face:

Permanent withdrawal from BoP
Conditional re-engagement if conflict de-escalates
Restructured participation with new terms
Alternative diplomatic mechanisms

Long-term Implications

The situation raises broader questions:

How can Indonesia maintain independent foreign policy?
What is the future of multilateral peace mechanisms?
How to balance relationships with competing powers?
What role should Indonesia play in Middle East diplomacy?

Conclusion

Indonesia’s suspension of Board of Peace discussions represents a significant diplomatic shift triggered by the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The government faces competing pressures: protecting citizens, maintaining diplomatic relationships, and responding to domestic demands for withdrawal.

The transformation of BoP from a “peace” initiative to what critics call a “Board of War” highlights the contradictions of an organization whose leading members are actively waging military campaigns. For Indonesia, a nation with a long history of independent foreign policy and support for Palestinian rights, the situation presents a fundamental challenge.

The suspension may be temporary, but the calls for permanent withdrawal are unlikely to subside as long as the US-Iran conflict continues. President Prabowo’s administration will need to carefully balance national interests, constitutional requirements, and public opinion in determining Indonesia’s future relationship with the Board of Peace.

What is clear is that the Board of Peace experiment has been severely damaged by the very nations that created it. Whether the organization can recover its credibility—or whether Indonesia will ultimately choose to walk away—remains to be seen.

Sources

Kompas.com — “Alasan RI Akhirnya Tangguhkan Pembahasan Board of Peace Usai Serangan AS-Israel ke Iran” — Source
CNN Indonesia — “Kemlu RI: Pembahasan Board of Peace Ditangguhkan” — Source
Tempo.co — “Kemlu: Tak Ada Pembahasan Khusus BoP dalam Sepekan Terakhir” — Source
Antara News — “Indonesia Tunda Pembahasan Board of Peace Akibat Perang Iran” — Source
Kompas.com — “Sebut BOP Jadi Board of War, Ini 5 Desakan dalam Petisi Bersama Masyarakat Sipil” — Source
MetroTVNews — “Timteng Memanas, Pemerintah Tangguhkan Sementara Pembahasan di Dewan Perdamaian” — Source