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The Middle East is once again engulfed in geopolitical turmoil. Following a series of surprise U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, the war in Iran has spiraled into a devastating conflict of attrition with mounting civilian casualties.

With missiles raining down on Tehran and the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei squashing hopes for swift de-escalation, the global market has grown highly vulnerable. Oil prices have spiked by 30 percent, and the UN Security Council is busy passing resolutions condemning the U.S. and Iran's retaliatory actions.

Amidst this chaos, Southeast Asian nations are scrambling to secure domestic energy reserves and organize evacuations. More importantly, the crisis is forcing these nations to reveal their true geopolitical colors—particularly in how Việt Nam and Indonesia are navigating their association with Donald Trump's controversial Board of Peace.

Officially, Hà Nội’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has voiced " deep concern " and called for "maximum restraint," while Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has assembled a task force to prevent domestic price shocks and ensure energy security. It sounds incredibly measured and responsible until one looks at Việt Nam's participation in the Board of Peace .

Pitched as a humanitarian crusade for Gaza's reconstruction, the Board operates more like a private club where admission costs $1 billion and Chairman Trump holds sole authority over funds and policy.

While traditional Western allies—such as France, Germany, and the UK—opted out, Hà Nội eagerly joined, securing a massive $30 billion deal for 90 Boeing aircraft, removal from U.S. strategic export control lists, and a free pass from global tariffs. It was a purely transactional maneuver by Việt Nam.

Indonesia initially entered the Board of Peace as an equally eager middle power, but Jakarta is now experiencing a fierce political meltdown over its association with Washington. In the early hours of the strikes on Iran, President Prabowo Subianto offered to fly to Tehran to " conduct mediation. "

However, as the bombing continued, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation faced intense domestic backlash . Critics and Islamic clerical bodies have demanded that Jakarta immediately withdraw from the Board and cancel plans to send Indonesian troops to Gaza as part of a U.S.-brokered stabilization force.

This mounting public pressure has forced Prabowo into a corner. Unlike Việt Nam's leadership, which can push through transactional foreign policy without fear of public opposition, Indonesia's democratic and religious landscape makes appeasing the U.S. an incredibly volatile political gamble.

Consequently, Prabowo has stated that he will withdraw from the Board if it does not benefit Palestinians or align with national interests. Likewise, Foreign Minister Sugiono confirmed that all Board discussions are " on hold. " While experts suggest Jakarta might opt for " passive quitting, ” the country is actively wrestling with its diplomatic stance.

One might be tempted to look at this situation and declare Indonesia the moral victor. However, Việt Nam's response is neither inherently better nor worse; it is simply another manifestation of the "Bamboo Diplomacy" it has practiced for years.

Nevertheless, optics matter. When the dust finally settles on the ruins of Tehran and Gaza, history will inevitably look back at these two Southeast Asian nations that joined the Board of Peace. It will see Indonesia as a nation that wrestled publicly with the demands of its people, and it will see Việt Nam as a nation that chose the path of least resistance, remaining conspicuously silent for a seat at the table.

History will probably look at one more favorably than the other.

References: +

https://press.un.org/en/2026/sc16315.doc.htm

https://www.csis.org/blogs/latest-southeast-asia/latest-southeast-asia-southeast-asia-reacts-iran-war

https://mofa.gov.vn/en/web/ministry-of-foreign-affairs/detail/chi-tiet/vietnam-voices-deep-concern-over-escalating-conflict-in-middle-east-58990-178.html

https://thevietnamese.org/2026/03/cynical-shoots-of-bamboo-viet-nams-hypocrisy-in-trumps-board-of-peace/

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesia-says-will-withdraw-board-peace-if-it-does-not-benefit-palestinians-2026-03-06/

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346114/indonesias-role-us-led-board-peace-under-scrutiny-amid-iran-crisis

Việt Nam, Indonesia, and the Board of Peace Amidst the Iran War

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