Speaking at the 2026 National Coordination Meeting of central and regional governments in Sentul, Bogor, West Java, on Monday, Prabowo said Indonesia has long been affected by global ideological and geopolitical rivalries since independence.
Since independence, the world has been divided into competing ideological blocs, including communist, anti-communist, democratic and capitalist camps, a condition Indonesia has navigated since its first president, he said amid persistent global power struggles.
He said current conflicts, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, carry far-reaching consequences for Indonesia, affecting economic stability, national security, supply chains and broader national resilience across multiple sectors.
Against that backdrop, Prabowo urged all levels of government to fully grasp evolving global challenges and incorporate international risk awareness into policymaking, coordination and crisis planning nationwide to safeguard long-term development goals and stability.
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“This is my message to the entire government: remain vigilant and understand the world’s challenges,” Prabowo said, calling for shared responsibility between institutions and the public to anticipate shocks and strengthen national preparedness together.
Prabowo cited recent discussions with global leaders in Europe, including at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he observed mounting anxiety over worsening geopolitical confrontation and escalating risks to global peace stability.
According to Prabowo, nearly all leaders he met expressed concern about the possibility of a Third World War, reflecting deep uncertainty over conflict escalation and crisis management worldwide amid weakening multilateral norms and trust.
He reiterated Indonesia’s adherence to a free and active foreign policy, reaffirming nonalignment, rejecting military alliances, and committing to balanced relations while prioritizing dialogue, cooperation and peaceful coexistence globally with all partners and regions.
“My guiding principle is simple: a thousand friends are too few, one enemy is too many,” Prabowo said, underscoring diplomacy as Indonesia’s preferred path amid persistent global uncertainty and safeguarding national interests long term.
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Translator: Andi, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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