As tensions linked to the U.S.–Iran war continue to destabilize the Middle East, Indonesia and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are expanding cooperation in culture, education, and the creative economy. These efforts are structured, growing, and politically safe. But they are also misaligned with the scale of the crisis.

At a moment of active conflict, soft power is not enough.

Recent engagements illustrate the current trajectory. The April 2026 visit of Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud to Jakarta produced agreements on heritage preservation, museum cooperation, and creative industries. Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon framed culture as a form of “soft power,” emphasizing its role in building long-term ties.

These initiatives are not trivial. They include coordination at UNESCO on intangible heritage, plans for museum digitalization and collection exchanges, and exploration of joint film production, translation programs, and artist residencies. Indonesia’s parallel engagement with Qatar focuses on academic mobility and joint research, while cooperation with the United Arab Emirates includes the deployment of Indonesian medical teams in UAE-run field hospitals supporting Palestinians.

Taken together, this is a coherent soft-power strategy.

The problem is not the substance of these efforts. It is their timing and priority.

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