The humid air of Doha hung thick with anticipation as Foreign Minister Sugiono of Indonesia delivered his address at the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit. The scene, unfolding in the weeks following Israel’s unprecedented attack on Qatar on September 9th, 2025, represents a critical inflection point in global geopolitical dynamics. The summit’s purpose – to coalesce international condemnation and explore avenues for de-escalation – underscored a rapidly fracturing Arab world, testing the commitment of longstanding alliances and revealing new fault lines in regional power. The attack, a brazen violation of sovereign airspace and a direct challenge to established diplomatic norms, highlighted vulnerabilities within the existing security architecture and ignited a wave of recriminations that reverberated across the Middle East and beyond.
The attack on Doha wasn’t simply an act of aggression; it dramatically exposed the limitations of the US-led security umbrella, particularly its inability to guarantee the safety of key regional allies. The failure of US intelligence to preemptively warn Qatar, coupled with a perceived lack of decisive response, fueled anxieties amongst nations reliant on US military protection. This event served as a powerful catalyst, accelerating the pre-existing trend of nations recalibrating their strategic partnerships and seeking alternative forms of security guarantees. According to a recent analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), “The Doha incident represents a systemic failure of deterrence and highlights a growing sense of abandonment within the Arab world.”
Indonesia’s decision to participate in the Emergency Summit, following a series of high-level meetings in Doha and Abu Dhabi, signals a strategic shift in the nation’s foreign policy. President Prabowo Subianto’s pre-summit visits, aimed at reinforcing solidarity with Qatar and reaffirming Indonesia’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, were intended to project a commitment to regional stability and actively challenge the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab states. Indonesia’s long-standing alignment with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), established in 1969 to foster unity and cooperation among Muslim nations, is now being strategically leveraged. The summit itself was convened under the chairmanship of the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and included 22 Heads of State and Government, demonstrating the gravity of the situation and the urgency of finding a diplomatic resolution. Key participants included the Presidents of Türkiye, Palestine, and Iran, alongside the Prime Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Malaysia.
The summit’s outcome – the adoption of a Joint Communiqué – reflects the complexities of the situation. While the document unequivocally condemned Israel’s attack as a “flagrant violation of sovereignty and international law,” and reiterated support for Qatar’s mediation efforts, it also underscored the deeply entrenched divisions within the Islamic world. The communiqué’s commitment to the “Two-State Solution,” with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, remains a central tenet of OIC policy, but its practical implementation continues to be hampered by deep disagreements regarding the terms of a final agreement and the role of external actors, most notably the United States. “The Doha Summit, while a significant show of solidarity, ultimately reveals a lack of consensus on the path forward,” commented Dr. Fatima Al-Zahra, a specialist in Middle Eastern politics at Georgetown University. “The competing narratives surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the divergent strategic interests of regional powers continue to impede progress.”
Several factors underpin Indonesia’s position. The country’s substantial Muslim population (over 97%) provides a significant moral and political weight within the OIC. Moreover, Indonesia is a major trading partner with Qatar and possesses significant diplomatic influence within Southeast Asia, a region increasingly sensitive to instability in the Middle East. The country’s economic interests, particularly its growing trade with Qatar, also factor into its decision-making process. Recent data from the World Bank reveals that Indonesia’s trade with Qatar increased by 18% in the six months leading up to the Doha attack, demonstrating the strategic importance of the relationship.
Looking ahead, the short-term impact of the summit is likely to be limited. While Indonesia’s participation has amplified the signal of international condemnation, it hasn’t fundamentally altered the strategic calculations of key players. The immediate focus will remain on managing the fallout from the attack and preventing further escalation. According to projections from Stratfor, “The next six months will see a continuation of the current volatile environment, characterized by heightened tensions and limited confidence-building measures.”
In the longer term, the Doha incident could trigger a period of significant realignment in the Middle East. The erosion of trust in the US security umbrella will likely accelerate, pushing countries to diversify their partnerships and explore alternative security arrangements. This may involve increased cooperation with China and Russia, who have been steadily expanding their influence in the region. Furthermore, the Palestinian cause, long a cornerstone of Indonesian foreign policy, is likely to remain a key driver of Indonesia’s engagement in the region. “Indonesia’s unwavering support for Palestine is not merely a matter of principle,” explained Dr. Hamidullah Khan, a professor of international relations at the University of Karachi, “It’s a strategic imperative, designed to maintain Indonesia’s position as a regional leader and a champion of justice.”
Ultimately, the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of the international order and the enduring challenges of conflict resolution in a region marked by deep divisions and competing interests. The event underscores the urgent need for renewed diplomatic efforts and a commitment to multilateralism, even as the geopolitical landscape continues to shift beneath the feet of established powers. The question now is whether the momentum generated in Doha will translate into tangible progress, or if the region will continue to drift towards greater instability and fragmentation. The shared challenge moving forward is to facilitate a dialogue that acknowledges the legitimate concerns of all parties and prioritizes the long-term security and prosperity of the entire Middle East.