SBY Warns of World War Risk: Indonesia Must Not Be Naive and Assume It Will Be Untouched

Indonesia’s sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has warned the nation not to be naive about the threat of a world war, declaring that the current state of global affairs is in disarray.

SBY began by discussing the history of the Second World War, noting that Indonesia was affected by the conflict despite not being a direct participant.

“Should we just focus on domestic matters? In a world that is this globalised, this interconnected and interrelated, that is impossible. I will give you the example of the Second World War — we did not join in, yet we became victims all the same,” SBY said whilst delivering a public lecture at the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) in Central Jakarta on Monday (23/2/2026).

SBY stated that Indonesia would merely become a collateral victim if it chose to remain passive. “If the decisions are made by certain countries, the major powers that were not part of the G20, what can we do? We become collateral victims all the same,” he added.

SBY also cautioned Indonesia against feeling secure simply because it has no disputes with other nations. He described it as naive to think Indonesia would remain untouched by a world war.

“We must not be naive and must not act as though we will not be affected. We have no problems, you say — don’t say that, because things are already this chaotic,” he said.

For this reason, SBY urged Indonesia to prepare itself, from strengthening its defence capabilities and food security to building international relations.

“So in my view, focusing domestically to prepare ourselves, yes; increasing our deterrence, yes; strengthening our defence capabilities, yes; enhancing our energy and food security — all of which could be severely disrupted in the event of a global crisis, yes,” SBY explained.

“Domestic efforts, yes; diplomacy and international cooperation, yes; understanding the setting of power relations, yes — and by doing so, God willing, our actions will be on the right course,” he continued.