Indonesia plans to redesign the largest Muslim Nation into a World Power

Indonesian Defense Minister and presidential front-runner Prabowo Subianto has revealed his plan to assert his nation’s role on the world stage and tackle global conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific region in an exclusive wide-ranging interview with Newsweek.

Just weeks remain until Indonesia holds its national vote on February 14 and Prabowo enjoys a strong lead against his two top rivals, former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and ex-Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo.

As leader of the nationalist Great Indonesia Movement, known as the Gerindra Party, Prabowo has particularly emphasized a commitment to building up defense and security, though he told Newsweek that he plans to expand far more than the military if chosen as the next head of his fast-developing nation, which has massive geopolitical potential.

Although he portrays himself as a harbinger for the future of his country’s nearly 280 million people, the world’s largest Muslim population, Prabowo is not without controversy.

The former special forces commander has distanced himself from his loyal service under the polarizing legacy of his then-father-in-law, late longtime ruler Suharto, who was deposed amid popular unrest in 1998 after more than three decades in power.

But while he was once exiled from Indonesia and banned from the USA, Prabowo has won the approval of major stakeholders at home and abroad.

He now brands himself as the man who will usher in a new era for famously non-aligned Indonesia during a time of deep crises rocking the international order and simmering tensions between the USA and China that threaten to destabilize his own region.

Boosting security is one of the key points of my platform. I have already shown my commitment to a well-managed and well-equipped military and security forces as Minister of Defense. Of course, this will continue.

Indeed, investment in the capacities and capabilities and modernization of our armed forces and our security forces will increase.

But I proscribe to a much broader approach to security than investment in military and defense. Of course, we need a powerful military ready and able to defend every square inch of our territory and face the security challenges of our time.

That also means enough to guarantee self-reliance in food, energy, water.

Newsweek / ABC Flash Point News 2024.