Prabowo in the US: It Is Our Tradition to Welcome Foreigners as Guests Who Must Be Protected

President Prabowo Subianto has committed to creating a conducive investment climate, stating that it is an Indonesian tradition to welcome foreign investors as guests who must be protected.

He made the remarks during a speech at the Gala Iftar Business Summit at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC, United States, on Wednesday (18 February 2026) local time. Prabowo began by affirming his commitment to cracking down on all forms of domestic malfeasance.

“We have problems with smuggling, human trafficking, illegal economic activity, illegal mining, illegal fishing, and illegal logging. I have just shut down 1,000 illegal mines. They were mining in protected forests,” he said.

“I also seized approximately four million hectares of land from corporations that violated laws and regulations, operating outside the boundaries of their permits or concessions, and so on. We are addressing our problems head on. We are enforcing the law. We are striving to create an atmosphere of legal certainty,” Prabowo continued.

According to Prabowo, this firm enforcement action would bolster social and political stability and create a conducive environment for business and economic activity. Drawing on his experience as an investor, Prabowo said he fully understood the challenges of investing in an unfavourable climate.

“Mr Eckerson mentioned that I was previously in the military. After the military, I entered the business world. I also do business in countries outside Indonesia. So I know and have experience of being a foreign investor,” he said.

“We were in Kazakhstan, we were also in Azerbaijan. So we understand the concerns of foreign corporations and businesses. And I think I am proud to say that I have friends here, old friends, right? Like Mr Eckerson — we have been friends for how many decades?” he added.

To that end, Prabowo pledged to uphold cooperation agreements with foreign investors. In keeping with tradition, Indonesia would always welcome foreigners as guests who must be protected.

“I think he can bear witness to our commitment, to how we protect our foreign guests, to how we uphold the sanctity of contracts and agreements. I believe this will demonstrate the Indonesian tradition of welcoming foreigners as guests. That is our tradition. We consider all guests as people who must be protected. We may quarrel amongst ourselves, but for us, foreign guests — or guests in our tradition — must be protected and respected,” he said.