Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has firmly rejected the USD 1 billion joining fee for permanent membership in the US-led "Board of Peace," insisting that his administration has made no financial commitments to the initiative.

Speaking via the presidential YouTube channel on Sunday, Prabowo addressed mounting domestic criticism, clarifying that Jakarta’s involvement was strictly centered on the potential deployment of peacekeeping troops rather than monetary contributions.

The "Board of Peace" was established by the Trump administration in collaboration with Qatar and Egypt following a ceasefire negotiated last October to halt the devastating two-year war in Gaza.

However, the requirement for permanent members to provide USD1 billion in funding has drawn international scrutiny, with critics labeling the body a "pay-to-play" alternative to the UN Security Council.

In Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, Prabowo has faced significant pushback from religious groups over his pledge to send 8,000 peacekeepers to Gaza and his attendance at the board's inaugural meeting in Washington last month.

Despite signing a tariff agreement with the United States recently, the former general emphasized that Indonesia maintains the right to withdraw from any international accord if the terms threaten national interests or fail to provide tangible benefits to the Palestinian people.

According to the state news agency Antara, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that specific talks with Washington regarding the Gaza peacekeeping mission have been placed "on hold" while the government evaluates the board's direction.

Source: AFP