Indonesia halting troops deployment exposes BoP credibility crisis

Indonesia suspended its plan to deploy 8,000 peacekeeping troops to Gaza on March 17. This decision, a realistic risk-aversion strategy amid the sharp escalation of the Middle East conflict, also exposes the functional failure and credibility crisis of the US-led Board of Peace (BoP).

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi speaks to reporters after a coordination meeting at the Ministry of Defense office in Central Jakarta on March 17, 2026. (ANTARA/Walda Marison)

The US and Israel aggression against Iran has evolved from a "local conflict" into a "regional war" in the Middle East. If Indonesia were to deploy 8,000 soldiers to Gaza at this time, it would likely place them in the crossfire between the US-Israel alliance and Iranian proxies (such as Hamas), posing a tremendous threat to the soldiers' lives.

Indonesia is the country with the world's largest Muslim population, so the domestic public opinion in is generally critical of the US and Israel's invasion of Iran. If Indonesian troops were to participate in peacekeeping under US command, they could easily be perceived as a "hostile force" by Iran and its allies, potentially dragging Indonesia into the US-Iran conflict and contradicting its "non-aligned" foreign policy.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has not announced its withdrawal from the "Board of Peace" but rather emphasizes "waiting for developments within the board." This indicates that Indonesia is still observing the situation, preserving room for diplomatic maneuver and attempting to re-engage once the situation de-escalates.

The Board of Peace, initiated by Trump, aims to promote peace in Gaza. However, the US and Israel's invasion of Iran has directly destabilized the region, stalling the peace process. As the founding nation, the US's actions contradict the board's very purpose, thereby undermining its credibility.

Amidst the outbreak of the Iran war, the Gaza issue has been marginalized. Members of the Board of Peace (such as Israel) being directly involved in the new conflict have rendered the mechanism ineffective. Indonesia's suspension of troop deployment objectively reveals the board's impotence in the face of real-world conflict.

Indonesia demonstrated its strategic autonomy as a regional power, refusing to endorse US strategy under uncertain security conditions. Indonesia's suspension could trigger a chain reaction, prompting other participating nations (such as Jordan, Egypt) to reassess risks. This will make the board even more ineffective.