Danantara-Blackrock Deal: Indonesia Gaza Row
Danantara, Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, is under fire for considering a partnership with BlackRock, sparking intense debate over the nation’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. The potential deal has ignited criticism due to BlackRock’s ties to arms manufacturers supplying the Israeli military, pitting financial ambitions against Indonesia’s long-held pro-Palestinian foreign policy and principles. Critics fear this collaboration could undermine Indonesia’s commitment against colonialism and its constitutional values. News Directory 3 is closely following this developing story. The meeting between Danantara CEO Rosan Roeslani and BlackRock executives signals a complex intersection of investment strategy and geopolitical considerations. Discover what’s next as Danantara navigates these challenges.
Indonesia’s Sovereign wealth Fund Faces Scrutiny Over BlackRock Ties
Updated May 29, 2025
Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara), is facing criticism regarding a possible collaboration with BlackRock.Launched in February to manage nearly $900 billion in state assets and attract foreign capital, Danantara’s potential tie-up with the U.S. investment firm is raising concerns.
Critics warn that BlackRock’s connections to arms manufacturers that supply the Israeli military could compromise Indonesia’s pro-Palestinian foreign policy. This could also undermine Indonesia’s constitutional stance against colonialism.
Danantara CEO Rosan Roeslani met with BlackRock executives in new York on May 13. The executives included President Raj Rao and Senior Managing Directors Bayo Ogunlesi and Charles Hatami.
Roeslani, who also serves as Indonesia’s minister of investment and downstreaming, commented on the potential partnership in an Instagram post on May 14. He noted that it “reflects the synergy between Indonesia’s development priorities and BlackRock’s global strengths in asset management, energy transition financing, and digital infrastructure.”
Roeslani added that BlackRock’s $11 trillion in assets under management demonstrates global investors’ confidence in Indonesia’s strong economic prospects. he believes it will open opportunities to attract more foreign investment to Indonesia.
What’s next
The situation remains fluid as Danantara evaluates its next steps. Further discussions are expected to determine the future of any potential agreement,taking into account the concerns raised.