Inbizzy, New York, – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto delivered his first address at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, marking Indonesia’s return to the world’s highest diplomatic forum after a decade-long absence.
In his speech, Prabowo highlighted Indonesia’s role as the world’s third-largest democracy with a moral and political responsibility to contribute to global peace. He addressed critical issues, including armed conflicts, injustice in Palestine, food security, and climate change.
Support for Palestine and the Two-State Solution
One of the strongest messages in Prabowo’s address was Indonesia’s full support for a two-state solution. He underlined that Palestinian independence must be realized while ensuring Israel’s security as a prerequisite for lasting peace in the Middle East.
This balanced approach positions Indonesia as a diplomatic bridge between conflicting interests.
Prabowo also offered concrete contributions, stating Indonesia’s readiness to deploy up to 20,000 UN peacekeepers to conflict zones including Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and Libya. This move reinforced Indonesia’s reputation as a nation committed not only to advocating peace but also to actively enabling it.
Indonesia’s Role in Multilateralism
Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to internationalism and multilateralism, stressing that only by strengthening the United Nations can the world address increasingly complex global challenges—from armed conflict to food, energy, and climate crises.
“With a strong UN, we can build a world where the weak no longer suffer, but live in the justice they rightfully deserve,” Prabowo stated.
His remarks echoed Indonesia’s historic journey, once a recipient of international solidarity, now a contributor to global peace and development. As a G20 member and the world’s third-largest democracy, Indonesia occupies a unique position: part of the Global South yet with the economic and diplomatic capacity to bridge the divide between developed and developing nations.
Indonesia’s strong support for UN peacekeeping—already among the largest troop contributors—was further emphasized by Prabowo’s pledge to send additional personnel. This underscores Indonesia’s role as not just a voice but also an actor in advancing collective security.
Leading on Food Security and Climate Change
Prabowo also outlined Indonesia’s commitment to addressing two of the world’s most pressing challenges: food security and climate change.
He announced that Indonesia had achieved record-high rice production, enabling not only national self-sufficiency but also surplus exports—including humanitarian aid to Palestine.
“The global food crisis caused by war, pandemics, and climate change proves the fragility of supply chains. Indonesia chooses to respond, not only for national interest but also for global solidarity,” he said.
As the world’s largest archipelago, Indonesia is acutely vulnerable to rising sea levels and climate change. Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia’s pledge to meet the Paris Agreement targets and accelerate its path toward net zero emissions by 2060 or earlier.
Starting next year, most new electricity capacity in Indonesia will come from renewable energy. The government is also advancing a large-scale reforestation program to rehabilitate 12 million hectares of degraded land, aiming to cut emissions while creating green jobs.
These initiatives position Indonesia as a middle power that brings concrete solutions to global challenges, strengthening its role as a leading Global South voice in sustainable development.
International Reactions
Prabowo’s debut at the UN received broad international attention. Member states praised Indonesia’s moral leadership, moderate stance on the Israel–Palestine conflict, its peacekeeping offer, and its strong commitments on food security, energy transition, and climate action.
Global media highlighted Indonesia’s ability to balance competing interests, framing it as a bridge between the Global North and South. Diplomats described Indonesia’s pledges as rare and substantive contributions from a developing nation.
Prabowo’s speech reaffirmed Indonesia’s foreign policy direction while signaling a broader transformation: from a country once reliant on international solidarity to a strategic actor shaping the global order.
