Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto vigorously reaffirmed his administration's commitment to Jakarta's historic 'bebas dan aktif' (independent and active) foreign policy on Wednesday, delivering a high-profile address to international diplomats and business leaders in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly high-level week.
Speaking before multilateral delegations, Prabowo emphasized that Southeast Asia's largest economy and the world's fourth most populous nation will staunchly resist external pressures to align with any geopolitical bloc amid mounting rivalry between the United States and China.
Balancing Great-Power Rivalry Through Independent and Active Diplomacy
Prabowo reiterated Indonesia's foundational diplomatic maxim that 'a thousand friends are too few, and one enemy is too many,' assuring international partners that Jakarta intends to deepen economic cooperation with both Western democratic nations and the BRICS consortium simultaneously.
Highlighting his domestic economic transformation priorities, the Indonesian leader defended natural resource downstreaming (hilirisasi), explaining that emerging economies possess a sovereign right to process minerals like nickel, copper, and bauxite domestically rather than exporting raw ores.
“Indonesia's traditional stance remains constant: a thousand friends are too few, and one enemy is too many. We respect all major powers, but we choose the path of non-alignment and mutual respect.”
Promoting Global South Solidarity, Food Security, and Palestinian Rights
On regional security, Prabowo championed ASEAN centrality as the primary stabilizing anchor of the Indo-Pacific, rejecting military pacts that could escalate maritime tensions in the South China Sea while calling for peaceful dialogue and adherence to international maritime law (UNCLOS).
Addressing pressing global humanitarian crises, President Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia's unwavering moral support for the immediate recognition of an independent Palestinian state, pledging expanded medical assistance and financial contributions to UN relief agencies.
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