Indonesian Islamic groups push Jakarta to lead Muslim coalition
Urge government to take more assertive international role by leading coalition of neutral Muslim-majority countries to push for de-escalation
JAKARTA, Indonesia (MNTV) –– A growing number of Indonesian Islamic organizations and political actors are urging the government to take a more assertive international role by leading a coalition of neutral Muslim-majority countries to push for de-escalation amid the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, reports Indonesia Business Post.
The calls intensified in March 2026 following the latest wave of violence, reflecting a rare convergence across religious institutions, policy groups, and parliament that Indonesia should move beyond passive diplomacy.
The Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) has been among the most vocal, condemning U.S. and Israeli actions as violations of international law and urging a tougher diplomatic response.
The executive board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), led by Yahya Cholil Staquf, has urged Jakarta to leverage its existing diplomatic channels to press for de-escalation, including its role in multilateral initiatives.
It has also backed outreach to Tehran and highlighted Indonesia’s leadership in the D-8 group as a basis for broader coalition-building among Muslim-majority economies.
Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah has emphasized diplomacy as the only viable path, calling for intensified coordination with international institutions such as the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), while urging all parties in the region to exercise restraint.
Beyond religious organizations, policy groups have also joined the call. The Center for Islamic Studies in Finance, Economics, and Development (CISFED) has argued that Indonesia’s “independent and active” (bebas aktif) foreign policy provides a foundation to take on a more prominent role, not as a lone mediator, but as a convener of neutral states seeking to reduce tensions.
In parliament, lawmakers from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and Prosperous Justice Party have echoed similar sentiments, urging President Prabowo Subianto to adopt a firmer and more independent stance. Some have explicitly called for Indonesia to spearhead a coalition of non-aligned Muslim-majority nations.
From passive observer to coalition builder
Taken together, these positions point to a shifting expectation of Indonesia’s role on the global stage. Rather than acting as a traditional mediator with limited leverage, Jakarta is being encouraged to organize and lead a broader coalition capable of amplifying diplomatic pressure.
Such an approach would allow Indonesia to translate its moral positioning into collective influence, mobilizing support across the Muslim world and the Global South without overextending its geopolitical reach.
Yet the push also highlights a structural limitation. While Indonesia carries credibility as a non-aligned actor, it lacks direct leverage over key players in a conflict shaped by major power rivalries.
In that context, Indonesia’s potential role may lie less in brokering decisive agreements and more in mobilizing a coalition of neutral voices, amplifying diplomatic pressure, shaping global opinion, and reinforcing calls for de-escalation.
As domestic pressure intensifies, the challenge for Jakarta will be to translate that expectation into a form of diplomacy that is both credible and effective, without overextending its reach on one of the world’s most complex geopolitical fault lines.
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