Prabowo Subianto Secures Trade Deal with Trump, Offers Peacekeepers for Gaza

Washington D.C. – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and U.S. President Donald Trump signed a reciprocal trade agreement on Thursday, February 19, 2026, during a visit to Washington for the inaugural Board of Peace meeting. Subianto too pledged 8,000 Indonesian peacekeepers to Gaza as part of a strategic diplomatic effort.

Trade Agreement Details

The trade deal aims to significantly increase economic ties between the United States and Indonesia. Projections suggest the agreement could boost Indonesia’s export value to the US by up to four times its current level. The agreement focuses on reducing economic reliance on China and opening the US market to Indonesian agriculture and critical minerals.

Peacekeeping Contribution

President Subianto committed 8,000 Indonesian peacekeepers to Gaza during the Board of Peace meeting. This move is seen as a strategic effort to strengthen relations with the Trump administration and secure favorable trade terms. Subianto is the only leader at the Board of Peace committing troops to the mission.

Strategic Context

This diplomatic maneuver comes as Indonesia balances its relationships with both the United States and China. Recent Indonesian actions, including the pursuit of Chinese J-10 fighter jets and joining the BRICS economic bloc, have raised concerns in Washington. Successfully securing a trade deal with Trump could aid mitigate those concerns.

Piper Campbell, former US Mission head to ASEAN, has noted that this strategy aims to maintain American engagement in Southeast Asia, a region increasingly influenced by China. Trump’s National Defense Strategy currently prioritizes the Western Hemisphere, which has created unease in the Indo-Pacific region.

White House Response

While a one-on-one meeting between Trump and Subianto was scheduled for Thursday, the White House indicated it might be a brief “pull-aside” during the Board of Peace event.

Trump’s Remarks

During a greeting to representatives at the Board of Peace summit, President Trump described Prabowo Subianto as “a guy I really like, really tough, I don’t want to fight him.” He also highlighted Indonesia’s large population, noting it is “around 240 million people.”

Board of Peace Summit Attendees

The inaugural Board of Peace summit included leaders and representatives from Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Pakistan, Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Egypt, Belarus, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, and Israel.