Prabowo says Indonesia never pledged $1 billion to Trump’s Board of Peace

In a statement issued on Sunday, Prabowo said the Board of Peace had only asked whether Indonesia would be willing to contribute peacekeeping forces, not make a financial commitment. 

He said Indonesia had “never committed to contributing financially at all” and was not present at the founding donors’ meeting in Washington on February 19, where several countries made funding pledges.

Foreign Minister Sugiono had already moved to clarify the issue on March 17, saying the $1 billion figure was not a mandatory membership fee and that Indonesia’s participation in the board was not tied to any fixed financial contribution.

The Board of Peace is a 28-country coalition backing a US plan for post-war Gaza.

Earlier reports said donors at the Washington meeting had pledged an initial $17 billion for reconstruction, emergency relief and security stabilisation, including $10 billion from the United States and $7 billion from nine other countries.

Prabowo said Indonesia’s main contribution would instead be the possible deployment of peacekeeping troops, adding that Jakarta could take on a larger role once reconstruction begins. He pointed to Indonesia’s earlier humanitarian support for Palestine, including assistance channelled through the National Alms Agency and the construction of a hospital.

He also said Indonesia joined the board because it saw a pathway towards Palestinian statehood, citing parts of a 21-point US proposal that refer to statehood and dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians. Those provisions, he said, were in line with Indonesia’s long-standing support for a two-state solution.

The clarification comes as Indonesia’s support for the board faces sharper questions following the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The conflict has complicated Jakarta’s earlier enthusiasm for the US-backed initiative and raised pressure at home over how closely it should align itself with Washington on Middle East policy.