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Indonesia is ready to deploy 20,000 peacekeeping troops to the Gaza Strip to contribute to the maintenance of local peace. Indonesian President Prabowo said that Indonesia is not only willing to provide manpower, but also funding to support the UN's peacekeeping efforts.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday morning (local time, September 23) — which was Tuesday evening Singapore time — Prabowo delivered his country's national statement during the general debate. Addressing the situation in the Middle East, he said Indonesia believes in the purposes of the United Nations and will continue to contribute wherever peacekeeping is needed. Indonesia, he said, "does not just talk; we act on the ground."
"Once the UN Security Council and this great Assembly decide, Indonesia is ready to send 20,000 of our sons and daughters — or even more — to help ensure peace in Gaza."
Prabowo said that whether it is Ukraine, Sudan, Libya, or elsewhere, Indonesia is prepared to deploy personnel whenever peacekeeping is required.
This year's General Assembly is taking place against the backdrop of the escalating war in Gaza. Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia's support for the two-state solution on the Palestinian issue. "Palestine must be independent, but we must also recognize, respect, and guarantee Israel's security, so that true peace can be achieved."
Indonesia has also recorded its highest-ever rice production and reserves this year. Prabowo said the country has achieved food self-sufficiency and has begun exporting rice to regions in need, including Palestine.
In his approximately 20-minute speech, delivered in his characteristically passionate tone, Prabowo repeatedly emphasized his opposition to the idea that "might is right," stating that no country can bully the entire human community and that all nations should work together to achieve peace — remarks that drew enthusiastic applause from the Assembly.
This marks Prabowo's first appearance on the UN General Assembly stage since taking office last year. Indonesian officials also attached great importance to the event, with Prabowo speaking third — a position seen as recognition of Indonesia's leadership role among the Global South.
**Speech boosts Indonesia's image, experts say it's more moral show than policy roadmap**
Liu Minli, Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Indonesia Studies Programme at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, told *Lianhe Zaobao* that Prabowo displayed confidence at the UN. His offer to send joint forces "clearly signals to the world that Indonesia is ready to play a leadership role and be a model citizen."
"He praised the work of the UN, which is both important and timely in a world where some major powers are moving away from multilateral aid and the principle of equal sovereignty among nation-states."
Virdika Rizky Utama, Executive Director of the Indonesian think tank Para Syndicate, noted that while Prabowo's speech was powerful, it was also full of contradictions. "There is a clear gap between the values he extolled and the actual global and domestic realities we face."
Virdika said Prabowo spoke about Indonesia's colonial past, yet Indonesia's current governance in Papua bears traces of colonialism. His pledge to send peacekeeping troops to Gaza would require enormous financial and logistical capacity, and Security Council authorization would be politically unfeasible. Therefore, rather than a viable foreign policy, it is more of a morally appealing gesture.
"This speech was like a moral show — it enhanced Indonesia's image, but it's not a roadmap for structural change."
Prabowo's performance on the international stage may not necessarily help him politically at home. Liu Minli noted that nationwide demonstrations erupted in Indonesia at the end of last month, followed by a cabinet reshuffle. Indonesian citizens are more concerned about domestic development and whether living conditions are improving.
"The past year shows that rather than focusing his time and energy abroad as he did when he was defense minister, Prabowo needs to pay more attention to the progress of the policies and measures he has been promoting domestically. He is about to complete his first year in office, and it's time to assess which domestic initiatives are working and which need adjustment." |
