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Indonesia steps up in US-backed Gaza mission, and into a complex geopolitical gamble
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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (front, centre) and Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (front, right) attending the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace.
PHOTO: AFP
- Indonesia will serve as deputy commander of a US-led stabilisation force in Gaza, pledging 8,000 troops, signalling President Prabowo's foreign policy ambition.
- This high-risk mission sparks domestic unease in Indonesia due to unclear deployment, Israeli involvement, and funding commitments, raising legitimacy concerns.
- Analysts highlight a mandate mismatch between Indonesia's humanitarian focus and the force’s security role, risking its reputation and liability for misconduct.
AI generated
JAKARTA – Indonesia’s decision to serve as deputy commander of a US-led multinational stabilisation force in Gaza thrusts Jakarta into the leadership of a high-risk mission abroad, testing Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s foreign policy instincts early in his term and stirring unease at home.
South-east Asia’s largest country – and so far the region’s only participant in the US-backed Board of Peace initiative
