Prabowo Stresses Resilience and Unity Amid Global Uncertainty
Jakarta (ANTARA) — President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia must strengthen national resilience, safeguard its natural wealth and prioritise national unity amid growing global geopolitical uncertainty.
He made the remarks in his opening address while chairing a plenary Cabinet meeting entitled “The First Two Years of Government: Working for the Nation”, held in the central courtyard of the Jakarta Presidential Palace complex on Wednesday.
“Brothers and sisters, the core message I want to convey, which I have repeatedly shared with you, is that we are now in a situation where we must survive; we must endure and safeguard our wealth. Our wealth, our natural resources, are like our blood. If we keep losing blood, the body cannot survive,” the President said.
He said this principle underpinned both domestic politics and Indonesia’s international relations.
On diplomacy, Prabowo affirmed Indonesia’s commitment to a foreign policy that respects all countries, takes no side in power blocs and prioritises friendly relations.
“I have said that the guiding principle of my foreign policy is that a thousand friends are too few and one enemy is too many,” he said.
Prabowo said this approach was reflected in a “good neighbour policy”, which he had pursued since serving as defence minister under Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo.
Indonesia must continue building co-operation with neighbouring countries without compromising its sovereignty or constitutional principles, he said.
“We do not want to join any bloc. We do not want to join any military pact. We respect them, but we do not want to be involved. In accordance with our Constitution, we are anti-imperialist. We are against colonialism,” the President said.
In keeping with that foreign policy, he said domestic politics must serve the interests of the nation rather than those of any group or faction.
He said a volatile global situation required all national forces to work together, particularly as political, economic, social and defence issues became increasingly interconnected.
Prabowo said today’s global challenges required leaders and academics capable of understanding issues in their entirety.
“Politics, the economy, social affairs and defence cannot be separated,” he said.
The President added that the international order was under serious strain, making a country’s ability to preserve its strength and resilience increasingly decisive.
In response, he said national unity was the main foundation for Indonesia to remain strong.
“Our people are becoming more astute. Ultimately, our leaders will safeguard unity. And that is what I am pursuing now: my politics is the politics of national unity,” Prabowo said.
“I want to bring all forces together. Let us set aside our differences. Let us unite for the greater interest: the interests of the Indonesian people, so they can live in prosperity and peace,” he added.
The President also said democracy must continue to allow room for differences of opinion, political competition and criticism of the government. However, these dynamics must not come at the expense of the nation’s unity.
“Differences are good, competition is necessary, and criticism and mutual correction are very necessary. But ultimately, we must safeguard unity,” he said.