Defense Minister Prabowo At IISS Shangri-La: Indonesia Will Never Ignore National Defense

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue 2022 forum / Photo: Prabowo Subianto Media Team

JAKARTA - Defense Minister, Prabowo Subianto, emphasized that Indonesia would never neglect national defense.

Defense Minister Prabowo explained that Indonesia as a country with a free and active foreign policy (non-aligned) respects the interests of all countries and is impartial. However, Indonesia will defend the country by all means at its disposal.

“The situation in Ukraine taught us that we can never take our security and independence for granted. Therefore, we are determined to strengthen our defense and that is the key word. Our outlook is defensive, but we have stated that we will defend our territory by all means at our disposal", explained Defense Minister Prabowo in the session themed "Managing Geopolitical Competition In A Multipolar Region" at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue 2022 forum, quoted from a written statement from the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense's Public Relations Bureau, Saturday, June 11.

Defense Minister Prabowo stated the importance of respecting all friends, neighboring countries have produced harmonious relations between countries in Asia for decades although there are still territorial rivalries.

“In our experience, over the last 40 to 50 years, we have found our own way, the Asian way to solve this challenge. We decided that our shared experience of being dominated, enslaved, and exploited, forced us now to struggle, to create a peaceful environment. Friendly environment", he said.

Prabowo also said the great powers in the world, China and the US, have realized the great responsibility to maintain world peace with wisdom and benevolence.

“As Confucius taught, that power and leadership must always come with benevolence. With all the challenges we face, we are optimistic, we believe that wisdom, rationality, common sense will win", said Prabowo Subianto ending his speech.