Defense Minister Prabowo: National Strength Is Important To Face Global Challenges

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto /ANTARA/HO-Humas Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense

JAKARTA - Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto said national strength consisting of elements of demography, natural resources, economy, politics, military, and psychology of the nation plays an important role for Indonesia to face global challenges.

“According to Professor Hans Joachim Morgenthau, who is known as a teacher of international relations with the realist school, he admits reality. They say that in relations between countries what applies is power," Prabowo said in a written statement quoted by Antara, Tuesday, June 7.

This was stated when delivering a scientific oration with the theme "The Role of Indonesia in Facing Global World Changes in the Next Decade" at the Graduation Ceremony of the Odd Semester of the Academic Year 2021/2022 at Pancasila University at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) Senayan, Jakarta.

In addition, Prabowo conveyed, as noted by historian Thucydides, that a strong party can do whatever it is capable of doing.

"As the historian Thucydides said, 2,500 years ago, the strong will do what they can, the weak suffer what they must (the strong will do what they can, the weak will suffer what they have to suffer)," he said. .

Prabowo dissects the elements of national power by highlighting the military aspect which is one of the important elements of national power.

“The nation is capable of cultivating, managing, establishing, and training good soldiers. We have extraordinary wealth, so we need good soldiers," Prabowo said.

In the oration, Prabowo conveyed the qualities that one must possess to be successful to the graduates.

For example, Prabowo said, for someone who wants to be a leader, he must master science and technology, hone intelligence, discipline, think positively, have enthusiasm, don't give up, be able to work together, and be loyal.

“Hang your ideals as high as the sky, even if you have to fall. You will fall among the stars," Prabowo said to the graduates quoting the words of the 1st President of the Republic of Indonesia Soekarno.

At the end of his scientific oration, Prabowo symbolically handed over 1,200 books entitled Paradox of Indonesia and Military Leadership: Notes from the Experience of Lt. Gen. TNI (Ret.) Prabowo Subianto to the graduates.

When handing over the books, Prabowo was accompanied by the Chancellor of Pancasila University Edie Toet Hendratno, Chair of the Pancasila University Education and Trustee Foundation (YPPUP) Siswono Yudo Husodo, and YPPUP Supervisory Chair General TNI (Ret.) Agum Gumelar.