Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto addressed the media in Jakarta on Wednesday, prior to embarking on a diplomatic mission to five countries in the Middle East and Eurasia: the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan.
The President noted that several ministers had departed earlier and would join the delegation at various destinations throughout the trip.
A Diplomatic Mission Focused on Geopolitical Consultation and Strategic Cooperation
President Prabowo outlined that the first stop would be Abu Dhabi, where he is scheduled to meet with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed for consultations on global geopolitical and geo-economic developments.
From there, the President will travel to Ankara for a state visit to Türkiye, in return for the Turkish President’s previous visit to Indonesia. He will also attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum at the invitation of the Turkish government.
While in Türkiye, President Prabowo will hold consultations on a broad range of topics, including geopolitics, geo-economics, industrial collaboration, trade, education, and cultural exchange.
“We enjoy a broad and comprehensive partnership with Türkiye,” the President remarked.
The President will then proceed to Cairo for bilateral consultations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, followed by a stop in Doha for a state visit to Qatar, where both countries are expected to sign several strategic agreements.
The final stop will be in Jordan, where President Prabowo will hold consultations with King Abdullah II, with a particular focus on regional stability and the situation in Palestine.
Indonesia’s Readiness to Contribute to Peace in Gaza and the Region
President Prabowo explained that the visit responds to growing international calls for Indonesia to take a more active role in supporting the resolution of the conflict in Gaza and the broader Middle East.
“Although Indonesia is geographically distant, as the country with the world’s largest Muslim population and a staunchly non-aligned state, Indonesia is seen as a neutral actor that can be accepted by all parties in conflict,” the President stated.
He further affirmed:“Indonesia stands ready to play a role—if requested by all parties involved—according to our capacity and capabilities.”
Humanitarian Commitment: Medical Support and Conditional Evacuation
President Prabowo also revealed that Indonesian medical teams are already operating inside Gaza, despite highly dangerous conditions.
“The hospitals where our teams work are frequently under fire. I thank our military medical personnel for their bravery,” he said.
In addition to on-ground assistance, Indonesia is prepared to receive approximately 1,000 individuals—consisting of wounded civilians, orphaned children, and trauma survivors from Gaza—in the first wave of humanitarian evacuation.
The President stressed two core conditions for this mission:
- All parties involved must give their full consent.
- The evacuees will only remain in Indonesia temporarily, until they have recovered and conditions in Gaza permit their return.
“We are ready to evacuate anyone—should the Palestinian government and relevant parties request their relocation to Indonesia—we are prepared,” the President affirmed.
President Prabowo also stated that Indonesia’s Foreign Minister will soon depart for the region to hold discussions with the Palestinian government and other relevant stakeholders regarding the technical execution of the evacuation.
Indonesia’s Firm Stance and Closing Remarks
President Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia’s unwavering position in supporting both the safety of the Palestinian people and the realization of Palestinian independence.
“This is a complex and difficult issue. But the commitment of the Republic of Indonesia compels our government to play a more active role,” he emphasized.
