President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that as Head of State and Head of Government, he is ready to go to war if any country infringes the sovereignty of the NKRI (Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia).

"In addition to being President, I am also Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces (TNI). We will never permit an inch of our land to be relinquished," he said, speaking at the opening of the Eighth Conference of the Youth Communication Forum of the Sons and Daughters of Retired Members of the Armed Forces and of the Police in Bogor on Monday, 31 October.

According to the President, many people regard him as being too soft towards other countries and fear that Indonesia will lose its sovereignty. But the President denied this, saying that he made a pledge from the moment that he joined the armed forces to defend Indonesia's sovereignty.

He went on to say that there are various ways to defend the country's sovereignty, such as for example by negotiations. But if this fails, it must be handled by means of war. "If it becomes necessary to defend the country by means of war, then I am ready to go to war. But would be as the last resort, after we have tried other ways."

The decision to go to war must take various things into consideration, such as the cost of war at a time when the government needs its funds to improve the prosperity of the people.

"But should it be the case that there is no other way, then, not only in the case of Ambalat, we would certainly go to war. This is not militarism but we must strengthen our military so as to make sure that we are not abused by other countries,' he said.

He also said that Indonesia's foreign relations continue to be based on the principles of an active, independent policy, by seeking to take advantage of our national assets and interests.'

"We will not be dictated to by other countries in the context of our bilateral relations with other states,' he said.