Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced on May 28, 2025, that Indonesia is prepared to establish formal diplomatic relations with Israel if Israel recognizes Palestine as an independent state. These remarks were made following President Subianto’s meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Jakarta.
As the largest Muslim-majority nation globally, Indonesia has historically supported a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and does not currently maintain official diplomatic ties with Israel. During a joint press conference, President Subianto reiterated Indonesia’s stance, stating, "On various occasions, I have said that Indonesia sees the two-state solution and the freedom of Palestine as the only way to achieve true peace." He also highlighted the importance of respecting Israel’s sovereignty and security.
Furthermore, Indonesia and France issued a joint statement emphasizing the need to progress toward mutual recognition between Israel and Palestine. They announced plans to co-chair an international conference in Paris next month to reinvigorate efforts aiming at a two-state resolution.
The statement noted, "The conference should restore a political prospect for a peaceful settlement of this conflict, paving the way for an irreversible path towards the realization of a Palestinian state and mutual recognition between Israel and Palestine."
Public support for Palestinian statehood remains notably strong in Indonesia, often manifesting in widespread demonstrations. This political climate influenced FIFA’s 2023 decision to revoke Indonesia’s hosting rights for the Under-20 World Cup after Indonesian officials demanded the exclusion of Israel’s team from the tournament.
This development signals Indonesia’s willingness to recalibrate its diplomatic stance contingent upon progress in Israeli-Palestinian relations, which could have significant implications for regional and international diplomacy.
