Indonesia in Survival Mode According to Prabowo Subianto

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - In a Cabinet Plenary Meeting held at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (21/10/2026), President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto revealed that Indonesia is currently in survival mode.

Prabowo addressed the current geopolitical situation, asserting that only the strong will prevail.

He noted that the ongoing geopolitical conditions have resulted in the absence of an international order.

"Now it's power politics. The strong will survive; as we can see what is happening in the Middle East, those who are weak will perish," said Prabowo.

Therefore, the Head of State emphasized the significance of national unity in confronting today's global conditions.

Prabowo mentioned that he has repeatedly reminded his ministers that Indonesia is in survival mode.

He asserted that the government must endure by safeguarding its wealth and natural resources.

"We are currently in a situation where we must survive. We need to endure, we need to protect our wealth and natural resources," Prabowo declared.

He expressed that this wealth is like Indonesia's lifeblood. If it continues to leak, the nation will not survive.

Moreover, he pointed out that it is not only Indonesia facing survival mode.

"Many countries around the world are experiencing what we are going through. In survival mode, national interests and the people's interests take precedence," he stressed.

For this reason, Prabowo underscored that Indonesia's foreign policy should respect all nations and major powers.

He admitted to having stated numerous times that his foreign policy principle is: 1,000 friends are too few, one enemy is too many.

"I want to be the good neighbor; what I want to pursue is the good neighbor policy. Since the beginning, even before I was officially inaugurated as President, while still serving as Minister of Defense in the cabinet led by President Joko Widodo, I followed the foreign policy path of President Joko Widodo at that time, aiming for good relations with all our neighbors," Prabowo elaborated.

"I have traveled around looking to cooperate with them. Whatever they request, I mostly comply, and that is what we strive to uphold. Beyond our region, we also safeguard so that we can be accepted. We do not want to align with any bloc, nor do we wish to join any military pacts. We respect others, and we do not want to get involved," he added.