14-11-2023 (JAKARTA) Prabowo Subianto, a former special forces commander and current defence minister, has accused the West of employing double standards and losing moral leadership. He argues that Jakarta has been treated unfairly due to protectionist measures imposed on critical minerals. Speaking at a foreign policy talk hosted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies Indonesia, Prabowo expressed concern about Europe losing its moral leadership and the shifting dynamics of global politics.
Prabowo, who has consistently topped opinion polls in recent months, emphasized the need for Indonesia to rebalance its international relationships. He called for learning from Eastern countries such as Japan, South Korea, China, and India in areas like eradicating corruption, improving education, instilling strong work discipline, and fostering national pride. He believes that Indonesia, as a nation that has looked to the West for several decades, must now broaden its perspective.
During the talk, Prabowo also criticized the European Union (EU) for treating Indonesian products unfairly, specifically mentioning palm oil, coffee, and tea. He expressed disappointment that while Indonesia opens its market to European products, the EU restricts Indonesian exports. Prabowo called for an equal playing field and pledged to continue the dialogue with the EU, advocating against protectionism and for fair trade.
Despite his criticisms, Prabowo expressed support for President Joko Widodo’s downstreaming policy, which bans the export of raw minerals and requires miners to establish processing facilities onshore. He believes this policy ensures a level playing field and enhances the welfare of Indonesians. If elected as president, Prabowo intends to expand the ban to include additional commodities such as copper, tin, agricultural products, and maritime products.
Regarding the European market, Prabowo’s claims about a ban on Indonesian palm oil are unfounded. While the EU has implemented regulations to prevent deforestation caused by palm oil production, imports continue, and new regulations limiting palm oil usage for biofuels will not take effect until 2026. Spain and Italy, for example, have increased their imports of Indonesian palm oil this year.
Prabowo also expressed his commitment to neutrality in the face of rising geopolitical tensions in the region, emphasizing Indonesia’s tradition of non-alliance. He remains optimistic that world leaders will prevent conflicts from escalating and believes that Indonesia’s leadership in Southeast Asia can be maintained through successful economic management, social justice, and equal opportunities for all. Prabowo reiterated his support for the Palestinian cause, emphasizing Indonesia’s understanding of colonization and its commitment to an independent Palestine based on UN resolutions.
