RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s decision to join the Peace Council established by US President Donald Trump has drawn public attention, with many questioning the council’s direction and purpose.

Radityo Dharmaputra, a lecturer in International Relations at Airlangga University, said Indonesia’s participation reflects its commitment to remain active in peace efforts. “From the beginning, Indonesia has supported UN resolutions, and now it has also joined and accepted the invitation from the US,” Radityo said in an interview with Pro3 RRI on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

He noted, however, significant differences between UN resolutions and the Peace Council’s charter. The charter currently in circulation makes no mention of Gaza. “If we check, even in the Charter Board of Vision, there is no reference to Gaza at all. What we see instead is support for President Trump as a leader,” he said.

This omission has raised concerns that the council may be more politically oriented toward supporting Trump rather than focusing on peace in Gaza.

Radityo explained that Muslim-majority member states expect continued US involvement, as resolving the Gaza conflict is seen as difficult without Washington’s support.

Despite these expectations, the council’s structure and mechanisms remain unclear. “From the records we have seen and the documents we have read, it all depends on President Trump,” Radityo said.

He also highlighted Indonesia’s dilemma in joining the council. If Indonesia declines membership, it risks losing its voice in decision-making. On the other hand, joining could lead to perceptions that Indonesia supports all US policies. Moreover, Indonesia is not joining as a permanent member due to the high costs involved.

“The risk of joining is that we will be seen as supporting all US policies. But if we don’t join, we lose our voice, we lose our seat at the decision-making table,” he said.

Radityo emphasized that Indonesia must remain critical within the council to effectively influence decisions. He stressed that the rights of Palestinians should remain a priority and be actively defended. (Gusti Panji/Lasti Martina)