Defence is Crucial for Ensuring National Sovereignty, President Prabowo Says

President Prabowo Subianto delivers remarks at the opening of the Indo Defence 2025 Expo & Forum, held at JIEXPO Kemayoran, Jakarta, on Wednesday (06/11). (Photo by: BPMI of the Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto officially opened the Indo Defence 2025 Expo & Forum, held at JIEXPO Kemayoran, Jakarta, on Wednesday (06/11). In his opening remarks, President Prabowo underscored that defence is pivotal for ensuring the safety of a nation.

“The safety of a nation must be guaranteed by its defense capacities. No rational nation desires war. However, human history teaches us that a nation that refuses to invest in its own defense is often stripped of its sovereignty, deprived of its independence, and reduced to servitude,” said President Prabowo.

Held under the theme “Defence Partnerships for Global Peace & Stability,” the Indo Defence 2025 serves as a strategic forum to strengthen global collaboration in the defence sector. The exhibition is also expected to further affirm Indonesia’s position as a peace-loving nation that remains firmly committed to its national sovereignty.

“From the very beginning, the Indonesian nation has declared itself a peace-loving nation. But the Indonesian nation loves its independence even more,” the President stated.

In the geopolitical context, President Prabowo emphasized that Indonesia has no ambition to become a global military power. Therefore, Indonesia has adopted non-aligned and neutral policies as the core principles of its foreign policy.

“We seek to be a good neighbor to all—our immediate neighbors, regional neighbors, and even distant ones,” the President remarked.

President Prabowo also called on all parties to work together in fostering global prosperity and peace. He stressed that war is the last resort for Indonesia, but if unavoidable, the nation will stand its ground.

“Let me be clear—war is our last option. We will only go to war if it’s absolutely necessary. But if it comes to that, we hold fast to the teachings of our ancestors: it is better to die than to be colonized again,” the President affirmed. (BPMI SETPRES) (AP/MMB)