Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto claimed that foreign interests have repeatedly sought to disrupt Indonesia's rise as a nation, alleging that some parties want to exploit the country's natural wealth.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are under attack. Whenever the Indonesian nation rises, it faces fierce attacks," Prabowo said while opening a plenary cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, October 21.
Prabowo said some countries were unhappy with Indonesia's emergence as an independent nation and claimed that attempts to disrupt the country had begun since its founding.
He said the government should not respond to such actions naively or seek to appease foreign parties at the expense of Indonesia's national interests.
Among the threats he cited were smuggling operations, including the entry of narcotics into Indonesia, which he said could weaken the nation, and the illegal outflow of natural resources.
"We must defend ourselves and safeguard our wealth. Our wealth, our natural resources, are like our blood. If we keep losing blood, our bodies cannot survive. Ladies and gentlemen, we are in a situation where we must survive," Prabowo said.
During the meeting, Prabowo also praised members of his Red and White Cabinet for their hard work and cohesion during the first two years of his administration.
He described the ministers and other cabinet members as some of the country's best people, saying they had worked hard and delivered commendable results in carrying out the public's mandate.
The plenary cabinet meeting, titled "Two Years of the Government: Real Work for the Nation 2026," was attended by members of the Red and White Cabinet, including Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.