When Middle Eastern solidarity meets an unexpected Indonesian rebuff, from Middle East Monitor

By Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama, for Middle East Monitor, December 10, 2025

“..[I]nternational assistance is not yet necessary,” said Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono on December 5, explaining that domestic capacity remained sufficient, Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama reported for Middle East Monitor on December 10. Indonesia’s State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi repeated the message the next day, saying the government had its own “considerations.”

No Preconditions

To many in the Middle East, the refusal was perplexing. The humanitarian need was enormous, and assistance was coming from friendly states with neither political preconditions nor strategic demands.

Indonesia’s hesitancy is rooted in its political history. After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devastated Aceh—resulting in the loss of more than 160,000 lives—the country saw an unprecedented influx of foreign militaries, NGOs, and aid teams.

Sovereignty

While that aid saved lives, it also sparked unease within Indonesia’s political elite about sovereignty and international oversight. Since then, the Indonesian government has been reluctant to accept large-scale foreign assistance unless a “national disaster” is formally declared—a designation used only twice: for the 2004 tsunami and the COVID-19 pandemic. Jakarta has not applied that designation to the current floods, leaving foreign aid effectively restricted.. Read the whole piece from Middle East Monitor here.

Saudi Assistance

Meanwhile, President Prabowo Subianto held a telephone conversation with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (MBS), on Wednesday evening, December 10, 2025, reports Kompas.com. The conversation topics discussed included the Sumatran floods, according to Indonesia’s Cabinet Secretary and former ADC to then Defense Secretary, Teddy Indra Wijaya, on an official Instagram account @sekretariat.kabinet on Thursday December 11, 2025.

“President Prabowo Subianto had a telephone conversation with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (MBS), on Wednesday evening, December 10, 2025. During the conversation, several matters were discussed,” Cabinet Secretary Teddy said. Regarding the Sumatran floods, the Crown Prince expressed his full support and condolences to President Prabowo and all Indonesians, especially those affected by the disaster.

“Indonesia is a large country, and its leader is a strong President who can face any situation,” Teddy said, referring to Prince MBS’s remarks, according to Kompas.com.

North Sumatra

Photo of residents wading through flood water carrying their belongings to safety after heavy rain inundated neighborhoods in Medankrio district, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatera Province, Indonesia on November 27, 2025. [Photo credit Kiki Cahyadi and Anadolu Agency via Middle East Monitor.]

Darul Mukhlishin Islamic Boarding School, Aceh Tamiang

An aerial photo published December 9 by Bisnis.com showing extraordinary mass of timber debris and logs surrounding Darul Mukhlishin Islamic Boarding School following extreme weather flash flooding events in Tanjung Karang Village, Karang Baru, Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh province, on Friday December 5, 2025.

A week after the flash flood access to Tanjung Karang Village was still being impeded by the piles of timber debris and thick mud from the Tamiang River, preventing aid reaching the area, reported Anshary Madya Sukma for Bisnis.com. [Photo credit ANTARA FOTO and Erlangga Bregas Prakoso via Kabar24.bisnis.com.]

Government refuses to declare a state of emergency

Indonesians were bracing for more heavy rains after floods and landslides devastated regions in the north and west, reported DW on its Youtube channel on December 7, 2025. According to DW News, more than 880 people are confirmed dead and hundreds are missing.

A chain of tropical storms hit South and Southeast Asia last week. More heavy rain is expected in the next 24 hours. DW’s Georg Matthes has this report from North Sumatra. Sri Lanka is also bracing for more devastation after it was hit by a cyclone last week. Forecasters are warning of fresh rains and landslides. More than 600 are dead and another 200 people are missing. Around two million people have been affected by floods and landslides. Tens of thousands of homes have been damaged. The government has announced a compensation package to help people rebuild, DW News claimed.

National Scrutiny

The floods and landslides hitting parts of Indonesia’s North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh provinces for a week was the focus of KompasTV’s premier news talk show “Satu Meja The Forum” that aired December 3, 2025. With more than 800 deaths confirmed and hundreds of others missing, the episode focused on the question of why the Indonesian government had not declared a national disaster.

This post is based on https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/12/11/21255081/prabowo-teleponan-dengan-pangeran-mbs-bahas-banjir-sumatera-hingga-kampung, https://youtu.be/5KMYYJ0DsuI?si=OuUpK7Bep9NUqwIs and https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20251210-when-middle-eastern-solidarity-meets-an-unexpected-indonesian-rebuff/. Featured image credit: Buildings damaged after flash flood in Aceh Tamiang, Aceh, Thursday (December 4, 2025). The Aceh Hydrometeorological Disaster Emergency Response Command Post reported on Tuesday (December 2), 1,452,185 people were affected by the disaster that struck 3,310 villages in 18 districts and cities in Aceh Province. (ANTARA FOTO/Bayu Pratama S) https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/12/11/17513971/sri-selamatkan-bayinya-terjang-banjir-aceh-tamiang-demi-bubur-dan-tajin.

In related news:

• Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency, West Sumatra, North Sumatra and Aceh Flood and Landslide Emergency Management Dashboard
• ASEAN’S Evolving Climate Governance Framework, 10 Dec 2025 by Sharon Seah, Melinda Martinus, Qiu Jiahui, Fulcrum Magazine, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore
• Chapter 11 – Weather and Climate Extreme Events in a Changing Climate, from Chapters, Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 June 2023, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
• BMKG: Siklon Tropis Senyar tergolong tidak umum di Selat Malaka, 27 November 2025, AntaraNews.com
• https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/13/a-shift-no-country-can-ignore-where-global-emissions-stand-10-years-after-the-paris-climate-agreement
• https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/12/17/21140091/menko-pratikno-soal-bencana-sumatera-ini-adalah-prioritas-nasional