Prabowo's Ambition to Strengthen Defence Systems Amidst Geopolitical Uncertainty

JAKARTA — President Prabowo Subianto has emphasised the importance of strengthening national defence to safeguard Indonesia’s territorial sovereignty by continuously increasing the nation’s main weapons systems (alutsista). On Monday, Prabowo handed over several defence assets to the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), describing the move as a milestone in enhancing national defence capabilities.

“These are merely one of the milestones in increasing our strength; we must continuously improve our defence capabilities. As a deterrent, we have no interests other than protecting our own territory,” Prabowo stated at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta.

The delivery includes six Rafale fighter jets, representing the first batch of a total of 42 fourth-and-a-half-generation fighter aircraft purchased by Indonesia through contracts signed by Prabowo during his tenure as Minister of Defence. Additionally, during his time as Defence Minister, Prabowo signed contracts for two Airbus A400M transport aircraft, one of which was officially received in November 2025.

Prabowo noted that the Indonesian government will continue to expand its weaponry to protect Indonesia’s land, sea, and air territories. “We know that geopolitics is full of uncertainty, and we know that defence is a primary requirement for stability and our guarantee of sovereignty,” he added.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that the government has prepared a significant budget for defence procurement in the coming years, although the exact figures remain undisclosed. “There is an allocation for next year, and for the year after; a substantial amount has already been budgeted. In the midst of current uncertainties, the President is correct—we must maintain our defence capabilities,” he said.

Sadewa also claimed that the budget for defence procurement will not disrupt the structure of the State Budget (APBN). He emphasised that the government has carefully managed state spending to ensure that priority programmes, such as defence procurement and the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme, can proceed without hindering development in other sectors. He further stressed that all budgetary requirements have been accounted for in the preparation of the APBN, ensuring the deficit remains below 3 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).