October 15, 2025
JAKARTA – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has found himself at the centre of global attention – and domestic debate – at the Gaza peace summit in Egypt, a high-level gathering aimed at ending hostilities and planning reconstruction in the war-torn enclave.
Under flashing camera lights at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Oct 13, US President Donald Trump greeted him with a grin, saying: “I see a tough man right here.” The two leaders shook hands and briefly posed for photographers, thumbs raised.
More than 20 world leaders attended the summit, co-chaired by Mr Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend, citing the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.
For Indonesia, the summit represented a significant diplomatic milestone. Mr Prabowo was the only South-east Asian leader in attendance, underscoring Jakarta’s growing visibility in a region traditionally dominated by Western and Middle Eastern powers.
The presidential palace described the event as “a historic milestone and an important step towards stability and peace in the Middle East”. It added that Indonesia’s participation reflected its “consistent support for peace efforts and humanitarian diplomacy” and reaffirmed Jakarta’s commitment to “building a just and civilised world order”.
The statement further noted that Indonesia’s participation “demonstrates the country’s consistent support for peace and humanity at the global level”.
Just weeks earlier, on Sept 23, Mr Trump had publicly lauded Mr Prabowo at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for a speech that drew attention for its boldness and clarity on Palestinian statehood. “A great speech. You did a great job pounding on that table. You did a great job,” Mr Trump said.
In that address, Mr Prabowo pledged continued support for Palestinian independence while committing that Indonesia would recognise Israel and back its security once Palestine’s independence was acknowledged – a nuanced and unprecedented position for the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.
At the summit, Mr Prabowo joined other leaders in witnessing the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Israeli and Palestinian representatives, mediated by Egypt and the US. The deal called for an end to hostilities and the start of reconstruction efforts in Gaza, backed by international donors.
Jakarta has long championed Palestinian statehood.
At the earlier UN event, Mr Prabowo said that Indonesia could deploy 20,000 personnel as potential peacekeeping forces in Gaza. Ahead of his departure for Egypt, he instructed the Indonesian National Armed Forces to prepare troops for possible deployment, should the summit yield a constructive agreement approved by the UN Security Council.
“The President stated that if peace is achieved and one of the consequences is that Indonesia is asked to help send peacekeeping forces, then we must be ready,” State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said after a Cabinet meeting on Oct 12.
While the outcomes of the summit remain uncertain, observers said Mr Prabowo used the event to boost Indonesia’s role in the Gaza peace process and prepare for a possible peacekeeping mission.
Dr Syafiq Hasyim, a political analyst at the Indonesian International Islamic University, said Mr Prabowo’s attendance at the Gaza peace summit was a deliberate strategic move beyond historical or cultural ties with Egypt. Mr Prabowo, a former army general, aimed to position Indonesia as an active player in Middle East diplomacy, particularly on the Palestine-Israel peace process, leveraging his prior connections with regional military elites, he told The Straits Times.
“Prabowo previously had already established connections with military elites in the Middle East, including Jordan. Now, under President al-Sisi, Prabowo might have a lot of comfort as both of them have military backgrounds. He will use this opportunity to further talk on the deployment of Indonesian peacekeepers,” Dr Syafiq said.
Even as Mr Prabowo took his seat among global leaders, a new controversy emerged.
False reports circulated on social media and in the Israeli media, suggesting he would visit Israel after the summit. The rumours sparked immediate concern in Indonesia, where public sentiment remains strongly supportive of the Palestinian cause.
“This news is truly heartbreaking, and we hope it is untrue… Let’s monitor that our President doesn’t also visit Israel!” said Instagram user Erlangga Greschinov, who identifies as the commander of Julid Fi Sabilillah, an Indonesian pro-Palestinian cyber-activism initiative that counters pro-Israel narratives online.
The President’s Gerindra Party labelled the media reports a “hoax”, while Foreign Minister Sugiono told the press: “That is not true. According to the original plan, the President will return home after the events in Egypt are completed.”
Dr Hendra Manurung, a lecturer in defence diplomacy at the Indonesia Defence University, told ST: “Israeli media has been portraying Indonesia as sympathetic to Israel’s sovereignty, not just supportive of Palestinian independence and international recognition.”
He added: “It would be a confusing decision if President Prabowo were to visit Israel. Such a move could spark large demonstrations from Muslim groups at home who reject the two-state solution and believe Israel should not exist as a state.”
Amid the attention and rumours, Mr Prabowo received high-profile validation from Mr Trump himself. After the signing, the US President publicly praised him, calling him “a very incredible man of Indonesia” and acknowledging the country’s contributions to the peace process.
Separately, at the peace summit, Mr Prabowo was overheard on a live microphone
asking Mr Trump for a meeting with his son Eric
, who Mr Trump said would call, while Mr Prabowo also mentioned “Don Jr”.
Both leaders appeared unaware that they were being recorded, and it was unclear if the request involved business. Mr Eric Trump and Mr Donald Trump Jr are executive vice-presidents of the Trump Organisation, which runs a golf club outside Jakarta.
Back in Jakarta, officials welcomed Mr Prabowo’s participation as a sign of Indonesia’s credibility on the global stage.
Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly Eddy Soeparno said Mr Prabowo’s attendance “reflects international trust in Indonesia’s ability to help resolve conflicts”.
“We are proud that President Prabowo is representing Indonesia’s longstanding support for peace and justice in Palestine,” he added.
For Mr Prabowo, the visit offered a diplomatic debut in one of the world’s most complex regions – and a reminder that Indonesia’s engagement in the Middle East remains closely watched, both abroad and at home.