PRABOWO’S GROWING INTERNATIONAL STANDING AND ‘CREDIBILITY’
Prabowo’s invitation to attend the summit in Egypt reflects Indonesia’s growing international standing and “credibility”, an expert on international relations told CNA.
Indonesia is believed to be the only Southeast Asian nation attending the peace conference while also being one of the few that has not established diplomatic ties with Israel.
“President Prabowo is charismatic domestically and widely accepted internationally,” Teuku Rezasyah from Padjajaran University said, noting that Indonesia also has the largest Muslim population in the world.
Teuku cautioned, however, that Prabowo should be mindful of the symbolism surrounding the event.
Minor gestures made by Prabowo during the meeting could be interpreted differently, including if he is sitting or standing close to Israeli officials which could be perceived as a sign of improving relations, Teuku told CNA.
“The Indonesian public will be watching Prabowo’s role closely and it is important that his visit does not give the impression that it has anything to do with establishing diplomatic relations with Israel,” he said.
Amid conflicting reports, Netanyahu reportedly accepted an invitation to join the summit at the eleventh hour following a phone call with Egypt’s Abdel Fatah, according to The Times of Israel. Trump had listened in to the call. But Netanyahu’s office has since rubbished the claims.
Separately, Teuku noted that Trump may use the occasion as an opportunity to encourage closer ties between Israel and countries that have yet to recognise it diplomatically.
“Trump could later tell the American public that the summit in Egypt exceeded expectations,” he said.
“In this context, Prabowo must firmly state that his presence is to help resolve a crisis that has persisted since 1948 and has claimed countless lives.”
United Nations investigators last month accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza in a bid to “destroy the Palestinians”.
Prabowo had earlier offered to send at least 20,000 troops as peacekeepers to Gaza to safeguard any future peace deal during his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York on Sep 23.
Additional reporting by Denny Armandhanu.
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