JAKARTA, June 11 (Bernama) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto affirmed that the country does not aspire to become a global military power, but is committed to maintaining a neutral and non-bloc foreign policy.
"We want to be a good neighbour to everyone — whether to those nearby, within the region, or even those far away," he said at the opening of the Indo Defence 2025 Expo & Forum at JIExpo in Central Jakarta.
Prabowo, who comes from a military background, called on all parties to strengthen cooperation to ensure shared peace and prosperity amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.
He stressed that war is Indonesia's last resort.
“We will only go to war if absolutely necessary. But if it comes to that, as our ancestors taught us, it is better to perish than to be colonised again,” he asserted.
The president stated that a strong defence is crucial to ensuring security, as history has shown that countries which fail to invest in this sector often lose their sovereignty and independence, and may even become enslaved.
“Indonesia is a peace-loving nation. But we love our independence even more,” he added.
This year’s biennial defence exhibition and expo, themed “Defence Partnerships for Global Peace and Stability”, aims to strengthen international cooperation in the defence sector.
-- BERNAMA
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