During his recent visit to Asia, President Donald Trump highlighted the contributions of regional allies in advancing his efforts to achieve a lasting resolution to the Israel-Hamas conflict. At the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia, Trump specifically acknowledged Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto for his support in Gaza. “I want to thank Malaysia and Brunei as well as my friend, President Prabowo of Indonesia, for their incredible support of these efforts to secure a new day for the Middle East,” Trump stated. Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, has emerged as a key partner in the White House’s push for Middle East peace, particularly following the recent fragile ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. Trump’s strategy builds on the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic and commercial ties between Israel and several Arab nations during his first term. White House officials believe that a permanent peace agreement in Gaza could facilitate Indonesia and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. However, Indonesia has publicly maintained that any normalization with Israel must be contingent on a clear pathway to Palestinian statehood. Prabowo has expressed eagerness to strengthen ties with Trump and expand Indonesia’s global influence, including seeking U.S. support for Indonesia’s bid to join the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Additionally, Indonesia’s ambitions in the global nickel market and rare earths industry present opportunities for deeper U.S.-Indonesia collaboration. Despite these developments, Prabowo faces domestic skepticism over potential normalization with Israel, given Indonesia’s historical support for Palestinian independence. Trump’s transactional approach to diplomacy, combined with Indonesia’s strategic interests, could pave the way for significant progress in the region.
With fragile Gaza ceasefire holding, Trump wants to make headway on Indonesia-Israel normalization
