Prabowo's Response to Global Conflict is Considered Realistic to Safeguard National Interests

JAKARTA - The Executive Director of the National Security Studies (INSS), Stepi Anriani, assessed that President Prabowo Subianto had taken a relatively clear stance in responding to the dynamics of global conflicts involving a number of major powers.

The reason is that a cautious and unhurried approach to directly siding is seen as the most realistic step to safeguard national interests. According to Stepi, Indonesia's current position is still in line with the principle of active free foreign policy, namely to maintain balance in the face of inter-state conflicts without losing its strategic interests.

"Free active and non-block does not mean that we are 'banci'. It means that when Bung Hatta created a free non-block, it was that we could defend A in conflict X, defend B in conflict Y," he said, Sunday, March 15.

Stepi said that this approach allows Indonesia to remain flexible in responding to changing geopolitical situations, while avoiding direct involvement in conflicts that could harm national stability.

Therefore, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the government needs to be cautious because geopolitical dynamics are not always related to religious or ideological issues, but are more influenced by the strategic interests of the country.

"Because this is not a religious issue, it's not a matter of sect or what. This is a geopolitical issue. And in geopolitics there is no halal and haram. What exists is national interest, what national security must be maintained," said Stepi.

He revealed that the Indonesian government's approach of not rushing to take a confrontational position was a realistic step in the midst of the current global conflict complexity. President Prabowo Subianto is also considered to understand the geopolitical dynamics so as to choose to play a more cautious step in maintaining diplomatic relations with various countries.

"We actually think clearly. But I think President Pak Prabowo understands geopolitics very well and he also plays his steps very carefully," added Stepi.

He emphasized that President Prabowo's approach to prioritizing caution is important so that Indonesia does not get dragged further into inter-state conflicts that have the potential to have a wide impact, both on national stability and on Indonesia's strategic interests in the region.