At EEF, Prabowo Reaffirms Indonesia's Free and Active Foreign Policy

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has emphasised that Indonesia will continue to implement a free and active foreign policy by determining its own national interests and contributing actively to peace.

“Indonesia’s foreign policy is free and active. We determine our own national interests and we want to contribute actively to peace,” said Prabowo during his speech as the guest of honour at the 11th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Russia, on Thursday.

As monitored via the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube live stream, Prabowo stated that Indonesia does not wish to join any military alliances, but instead seeks to participate in economic alliances.

According to him, the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Indonesia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is a form of economic partnership not intended to oppose any party, but rather to create shared prosperity.

“Indonesia works with the East, West, North, and South as a sovereign and equal partner,” he said.

Prabowo reaffirmed that Indonesia adheres to the principle of increasing friendships and avoiding hostility.

“For us, a thousand friends are too few, and one enemy is too many,” said Prabowo.

The Head of State noted that Indonesia attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) last year to seek friends, and has now come to Vladivostok for the 11th EEF to transform those friendships into pragmatic results.

Prabowo also asserted that the Global South is not a new bloc, but rather a group fighting for justice, the fair distribution of prosperity, and a fair voice in the formulation of global rules.

The President emphasised that Indonesia is ready to support every sincere effort to achieve a just and lasting peace wherever conflicts still persist.

“Our position is clear and consistent. Indonesia is ready to support every sincere effort towards a just and lasting peace wherever conflict remains,” he said.

Prabowo then linked peace to development. In his view, hunger, unemployment, injustice, and humiliation can serve as fuel for conflict.

The President assessed that the Far East, which offers opportunities, nations capable of feeding their children, and an Asia-Pacific that trades openly, represent real and sustainable contributions to peace.

“Sovereignty enables peace. Peace enables development. And development for the benefit of the people makes that peace endure,” said Prabowo.