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Has Indonesia jumped to US camp? It’s not so simple
With Xi and Putin one day, and on Trump’s Board of Peace the next, what are Prabowo and Indonesia playing at?
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Steps, such as joining Mr Donald Trump's Board of Peace, may suggest Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's administration is edging closer to the US camp. The truth is more complicated, says the writer.
PHOTO: AFP
JAKARTA – One word leapt off the page when Indonesian negotiators signed a tariff agreement with the United States on Feb 19, 2026: “alliance”.
At first glance, it hinted at a shift towards Washington. For decades, Indonesia has carefully avoided language suggesting bloc membership or binding strategic commitments and stuck with its commitment to staying non-aligned.
