August 1, 2026 | 11:11 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is wary of the conflicts happening around the world. He believes that with the current number of battles, the danger of nuclear war cannot be underestimated. According to Prabowo, the current situation in the world is very precarious. "Huge wars are happening everywhere," said the Gerindra Party chair during a speech in front of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) at the State Palace in Jakarta, on Friday, July 31, 2026.
He cited a major war in Europe between Ukraine and Russia. Prabowo stated that the conflict has been going on longer than World War I, which occurred from 1914-1918.
Furthermore, Prabowo suggested that the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has been ongoing since 2022, could last longer than World War II. "World War II lasted from September 1939 to mid-May 1945. Perhaps the war in Ukraine could last even longer than World War II," he said.
Prabowo noted that escalation of conflicts is happening elsewhere while the war in Ukraine is still ongoing. "The situation in Gaza, Lebanon, and the Middle East is even worse. In the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, the situation is far from over," said the former defense minister.
Considering this situation, Prabowo warns about the potential use of nuclear weapons. "The danger of nuclear war cannot be underestimated, both in Ukraine and in the Middle East," he said.
In the same speech, Prabowo also touched on the increasingly dire situation in the Middle East. "Every afternoon, every night, we see in the news, escalation, escalation, escalation," he said.
Prabowo mentioned that there are claims that Iran already possesses nuclear weapons. He believes that this condition could lead other countries to want the same. "It is said that Iran already has nuclear weapons. Now Saudi Arabia also wants to have nuclear weapons. If Saudi Arabia wants to have nuclear weapons, it is not impossible for the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Egypt to also want nuclear weapons," he said.
President Prabowo delivered the speech in front of businesspeople from Kadin Indonesia at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. Around 150 businesspeople attended the event on Friday this week.
Kadin Indonesia Chair, Anindya Novyan Bakire, stated that all Kadin leaders from 38 provinces attended President Prabowo's invitation. "They want to discuss how to together improve the economy in their regions," said Anindya at the Palace.
In addition to the Kadin leaders, Anindya mentioned that 30 business associations and unions attended the meeting. "So the discussion should be very interesting," she said.
Before this, she said, Prabowo had invited Kadin businesspeople to his private residence in Hambalang, West Java, last August. At that time, Anindya stated that President Prabowo warned that the global economy and geopolitics would be in turmoil. "Just like now," said Anindya.
Read: Prabowo Says South Korea Asked Him to Help Open Talks with North Korea
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