Indonesia may commit to paying $1 billion — roughly Rp17 trillion — to the U.S.-backed Board of Peace. This is not diplomacy, humanitarian aid, or peacebuilding. It asks Indonesians to fund the aftermath of destruction caused overwhelmingly by Israel and the United States, while creating no mechanism to prevent future violence or hold the aggressors accountable.

Rp17 trillion, likely drawn from the state budget, is staggering. It could pay hundreds of thousands of teachers, fund essential services, or support major social programs. By comparison, it is 66 times larger than Indonesia’s last U.N. contribution and roughly 500 times Indonesia’s ASEAN contribution. This is a nation-scale expenditure with immediate domestic consequences.

Indonesia cannot absorb this payment without serious repercussions. The country already faces massive debt obligations, with interest consuming a quarter of tax revenue, while social protection grows slowly and defense spending surges.........

© Middle East Monitor