JAKARTA – Indonesia’s participation in the Board of Peace (BoP) must be viewed as a strategic articulation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) spirit rooted in the values of the Bandung Dasa Sila from the 1955 Asian-African Conference. Amidst rising global rivalry and geopolitical fragmentation, the BoP is no longer a mere symbol, but an instrument to reaffirm Indonesia’s position: non-partisan toward great powers, yet actively serving as a guardian of world peace.
This spirit is nothing new. Since the Soekarno era, Indonesia has positioned itself as a motor of global diplomacy through the initiation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), active participation in the United Nations, and consistency in driving decolonization and international justice. This historical legacy now finds its relevance once again in an increasingly multipolar global context.
In practice, Indonesia’s international footsteps continue to be clearly visible. Indonesia actively deploys peacekeeping forces under UN missions, engages in various multilateral forums, and plays the role of a bridge for dialogue between conflicting nations. This stance is also firmly reflected in Indonesia’s commitment to continuously support the struggle for Palestinian independence, as part of the constitutional mandate to reject all forms of colonialism on earth.
President Prabowo Subianto is seen as having a major opportunity to strengthen this role through a more progressive and adaptive diplomatic approach. Within the framework of the BoP, Indonesia is encouraged not only to be an initiator, but also a prime mover in building an inclusive and sustainable mechanism for global dialogue, including pushing for a just conflict resolution for the Palestinian people.
Responding to this, national figure Abdullah Rasyid emphasized that this step represents consistency as well as the strengthening of Indonesia’s position on the world stage. “The BoP is a reaffirmation of Indonesia’s identity as a nation that pioneered the non-aligned movement—one that does not bow to the pressure of great powers, but actively fights for peace. This includes our consistency in defending Palestinian independence as a constitutional mandate and a universal humanitarian value,” he said.
Amidst the shadows of great power rivalries that were once reflected in blocs like NATO and the Warsaw Pact, and are now present in new configurations, Indonesia’s presence as an active non-aligned power becomes increasingly relevant and needed.
Thus, Indonesia’s participation in the BoP reaffirms that the free and active (bebas-aktif) foreign policy is not just a normative principle, but has been tested in the practice of Indonesian diplomacy at the global level. Non-partisan toward any power, yet firmly siding with peace, the independence of nations, as well as universal justice and humanity.
