United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is visiting Indonesia from October 17 to 19 to reinforce the country’s role in global peacekeeping efforts and multilateral cooperation. This visit underscores Indonesia’s significant contributions to UN peacekeeping missions, with more than 50,000 Indonesian personnel having served in various operations worldwide as of February 2026.
During his stay, Guterres will visit Indonesia’s peacekeeping mission training centre. There, he is set to meet with personnel preparing for deployment to the Central African Republic under the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA). He will also honor Indonesian peacekeepers who have lost their lives in service, reflecting on the recent deaths of four Indonesian peacekeepers with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon. These deaths, occurring in March and April 2026, were preliminarily linked to Israeli tank fire and a Hezbollah-planted improvised explosive device.
Guterres’ itinerary includes delivering a speech at Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry, where he will discuss the future of multilateralism and stress the importance of international cooperation in addressing ongoing global conflicts and challenges. The visit highlights the role of multilateral efforts in maintaining international peace and security.
This visit coincides with Indonesia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2029–2030 term. The 15-member council plays a crucial role in authorizing peacekeeping missions and imposing sanctions to uphold international peace and security.