Speaking at a public discussion titled “What’s Up with Prabowo?” here on Saturday, Nasbi said that the president’s consistency reflects his commitment to maintaining national sovereignty.
“Since 2014—or even earlier—Mr. Prabowo has been emphasizing food and energy security. At the time, many questioned the relevance of these issues,” he remarked, initiating the discussion.
He noted that recent global conflicts, including the Russo–Ukrainian war, the Gaza–Israel conflict, and escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, have underscored the importance and relevance of President Prabowo's message.
He explained that President Prabowo’s vision is rooted in concerns over disruptions to global supply chains driven by geopolitical instability. He emphasized that even with sufficient financial resources, a country may be unable to import basic necessities if global trade is interrupted.
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“Why is the president so persistent on these matters? Why is he pushing hard for self-reliance? (It is) because the world could fall into crisis at any moment,” he elaborated.
In terms of energy resilience, Nasbi pointed out that Indonesia remains heavily dependent on imported fuel.
“For example, in terms of fuel consumption, we use around 1.5 to 1.6 million barrels per day, with approximately one million barrels being imported daily,” he remarked.
Furthermore, he stated that national self-sufficiency is crucial not only in times of crisis but also beneficial in peaceful periods.
“Even in peaceful times, (maintaining) food security is very good for us, as we do not need to spend heavily on imports for essential goods,” he added.
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Translator: Andi, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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