Jakarta, IO – President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that Indonesia must heighten its vigilance in navigating an increasingly complex global landscape. While describing the current global situation as precarious, the President stressed that it should be met with composure rather than panic.
“The global situation is very precarious, but there is no point in panicking or being afraid. Instead, it should make us more aware,” he said before business leaders who are members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) at the State Palace on Friday.
“We must act and speak with wisdom and kindness. We must remain vigilant because we are indeed a very large and rich country,” he added.
He went on to explain that Indonesia’s vast natural resources serve as both a blessing and a strategic vulnerability. Throughout history, commodities across the archipelago—such as spices and timber—continually attracted major global powers.
“If you wanted a strong maritime fleet for two-week voyages back then, you needed spices to keep food from spoiling, and you needed wood suitable for seafaring vessels, which was found right here in the archipelago. They all sought us out for our spices and timber because ships were built of wood,” Prabowo said.
Drawing parallels to modern international relations, the head of state warned that nations blessed with abundant resources often face intense geopolitical pressures. He cited the prolonged conflicts in the Middle East as a prime example, attributing them largely to the region’s vast energy and strategic mineral reserves.
“I emphasize this at length because what we are discussing is unfolding right before our eyes. Every evening and night, we see news of escalation after escalation,” he said.
“Divide et impera [divide and rule] is not just a line in history textbooks; it is a living reality,” he concluded. (des)