Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – Jakarta decided to postpone the summit of eight Muslim-majority developing countries grouped under the D8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, which was scheduled to be held in mid-April, due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Senior foreign ministry official Tri Tharyat told journalists on Friday that the decision was made following consultations with the group's secretary-general, commissioners and representatives of member states.
"We have been monitoring and analyzing the developing situation in the Middle East since Feb. 28, and up until today, it is unfortunate that there are no signs for any deescalation anytime soon," Tri said, referring to the date when the United States first launched its "Operation Epic Fury" on Iran, a member of the D-8.
"Indonesia has communicated its decision to all member states, all of which have expressed their understanding. [...] We are all well aware that the situation is far from easy," he continued, adding that developments in the Middle East would continue to be monitored before a new date for the summit is set.
A subset of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the D-8 brings together some of the Muslim world's largest developing economies to promote closer economic cooperation. Its members include Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey, with Azerbaijan joining as the group's ninth member in 2024.
The D-8's 12th Summit was initially scheduled for April 15 in Jakarta, under the theme "Navigating Global Shifts: Strengthening Equality, Solidarity and Cooperation for Shared Prosperity".
A special session was also planned to discuss the latest situation in Gaza, as international efforts are mobilized to begin reconstruction of the Palestinian exclave.
The ongoing Middle East conflict, triggered by US attacks on Iran, has rippled across the region and affected several countries, including Azerbaijan, which is now acting as a primary exit gateway for foreign nationals seeking to flee Iran, and Turkey, which has taken on a de facto mediator role as it intensifies communication with both Washington and Tehran.
Iran itself has delayed several international conferences originally scheduled to be held in Tehran, including the two-day OIC ministerial conferences slated to begin on Apr. 9.
Since the late-February strikes began, several of Iran's major sites, including energy facilities, missile launch systems and military bases, have been targeted in sustained US and Israeli attacks across the country.
Concerns have also mounted on the humanitarian impact of the conflict, with the United Nations estimating that up to 3.2 million people have been displaced within Iran as fighting continues. The escalating war has also disrupted regional energy flows and heightened fears of broader instability across the Gulf and beyond.
Source: https://asianews.network/indonesia-delays-d8-summit-as-mideast-war-rages-on