Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will participate in the inaugural gathering of the U.S.-led “Board of Peace” initiative next week, where he is expected to champion Palestinian rights and pursue a two-state solution framework. The Indonesian foreign ministry confirmed Prabowo’s attendance at the February 19th meeting, noting he would leverage the platform to advocate for Palestinian protection and sustainable peace measures.
During his Washington visit, the Indonesian leader plans to negotiate the reported $1 billion membership fee for the peace board while finalizing a bilateral tariff agreement with the United States. This diplomatic engagement coincides with Indonesia’s military preparations to deploy up to 8,000 peacekeeping troops to Gaza, though specific deployment details remain undetermined.
President Prabowo clarified that troop mobilization represents precautionary measures pending potential agreements, emphasizing that any Indonesian military presence would focus exclusively on humanitarian objectives rather than peace enforcement. This preparation follows November’s announcement that Indonesia had trained 20,000 personnel for medical and reconstruction missions in Gaza.
Jakarta has demonstrated sustained commitment to Palestinian support through substantial humanitarian aid, including 10,000 tonnes of rice delivered last August and the initiation of long-term agricultural projects in Sumatra and Kalimantan specifically designed to enhance Palestinian food security.
The peace board’s formation follows October’s Gaza ceasefire agreement, though the inclusion of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—currently under ICC investigation for alleged Gaza war crimes—has generated substantial controversy. The board notably excludes Palestinian representation and has failed to prevent continued ceasefire violations, with nearly 600 Palestinian casualties recorded since October.
Netanyahu’s unexpected early travel to Washington this week preceded the formal board meeting, where he and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed ongoing Iran negotiations and regional security concerns. Trump characterized their discussions as productive while acknowledging no definitive agreements were reached regarding Iran diplomacy.