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KN-JAKARTA, President 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.
In a seminar titled “Reading Today’s Conflict Escalation and Indonesia’s Position: Where Does the Free and Active Policy Stand?” held by University of Indonesia, Professor Evi Fitriani offered a different perspective, arguing that Indonesia’s “free and active” foreign policy remains appropriate. She said that Indonesia should maintain relations with all parties without taking sides. However, she questioned Indonesia’s participation in the BoP, particularly when followed by trade agreements, which she believes could signal alignment with United States interests. Meanwhile, Professor Heru Susetyo from the Faculty of Law noted that Indonesia’s participation in the BoP undermines its long-standing “free and active” foreign policy principle.
Middle East political expert Prof. Yon Machmudi criticized Indonesia’s diplomatic stance amid the US–Israel conflict with Iran, urging a firmer and more independent position. He suggested that Indonesia should consider withdrawing from forums like the Board of Peace (BOP) if its role is ineffective and merely aligns with US and Israeli influence. He emphasized the importance of establishing a balancing consolidation within the forum to ensure its continued effectiveness, advocating for cooperation with Arab nations and the Islamic world—entities that possess a clear mission and firm boundaries.
Intelligence and geopolitics observer Amir Hamzah said that President Prabowo Subianto’s stance of not immediately aligning with commitment narratives in the Board of Peace (BoP) funding scheme signals Indonesia’s intention to stand on equal footing rather than act merely as a follower. According to Amir, this position is important, especially if the global landscape in the future is again influenced by leadership such as Donald Trump, which tends to be transactional in nature. He added that this approach reflects a strategy of selective engagement — Indonesia remains involved but retains full control over its strategic decisions.
Meanwhile, the unjust war against Iran launched by the United States and Israel has entered its fourth week without a clear off-ramp for the aggressors, resulting in significant losses. Nobody thought Iran would last this long when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, born Mileikowski, coerced US President Donald Trump to start the war. They must have assumed that Iran would crumble instantly like a house of cards, much like they viewed Venezuela, a nation cowering before becoming another US underling.
Trump secured his oil from Venezuela, plenty of it. Then he eyed Iran’s oil and gas. But Iran is different, and Trump miscalculated: Iran has now blocked the Strait of Hormuz, much to his surprise. The US-Israeli attacks prove that neither country is trustworthy while marking yet another chapter in a long history of Tehran being cheated by Washington.
Glembert
