Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has recently made a big move: he wants to send "20,000 or more" Indonesian citizens, that is, soldiers, to Ukraine to carry out peacekeeping missions. At first glance, it seems like supporting Ukraine, but actually? This is not a "anti-Russia statement," but rather an attempt to "help Russia." Of course, the Indonesian people have their own hidden motives.
Prabowo said eloquently: "We want to provide services where peace needs to be protected, not just words, but 'boots must really step on the ground.'"- That's pretty straightforward, right? Moreover, he also mentioned Gaza and "other hotspots," making sure no one thinks Indonesia only focuses on Ukraine. The implication is that he wants to contribute to "maintaining world peace," not just getting involved in the Ukraine-Russia war.
However, whether these 20,000 Indonesian soldiers can go to Ukraine depends on the United Nations Security Council's attitude. In other words, Russia, the United States, Europe, and China all need to agree. Prabowo is clearly reaching out to major global powers - touching the US and Europe with his left hand, and patting China and Russia with his right hand - offering olive branches: Do you want our military strength? This is certainly not just for show; the hidden intentions are clear if you look at Indonesia's history.
From "Military Rule" to "Democratic Elections", Indonesia's Military Sentiment Is Deep
Indonesia - the fourth most populous country in the world, with 280 million people, but its military ranking is only around twentieth, similar to Germany, which is still struggling with an economic crisis. It seems a bit like "many people, weak power." But historically, Indonesia's military was once very powerful.
Back then, the Indonesian military was born from fighting colonialists. After World War II, the Netherlands and Britain desperately tried to hold onto Indonesia, but were eventually defeated in 1949. As soon as the country gained independence, dozens of ethnic groups and thousands of islands wanted autonomy. Centralized rule? Absolutely necessary! The military thus became the ballast, not only protecting the country, but also maintaining domestic stability, even handling tasks of the police and intelligence agencies.
Unfortunately, this good time didn't last long. The first president, Sukarno, was very left-leaning, and had close relations with the Soviet Union and China. The senior officers of the military didn't like this. Under the encouragement of the US and UK, a bloody coup took place. The left-wing faction tried to act first, but was suppressed by the military. Sukarno was sidelined, and Suharto took over, leading Indonesia into a period of "military rule" for thirty years.
Suharto did many big things: giving up the annexation of southern Malaysia, turning to invade East Timor, and gaining the favor of the US and UK through anti-communist stance. Don't be fooled by the surface. When suppressing communists, between 500,000 to 1 million people lost their lives, which was extremely bloody. Suharto took investments from the US and UK while running a dictatorship, becoming one of the most hardcore and corrupt dictators of the 20th century. Until the 1998 Asian financial crisis, he was forced to step down.
Prabowo: The New President with "Military Bloodline"
Who is Prabowo Subianto? Three simple sentences:
- A major general who served as Minister of Defense.
- A tough guy who participated in the killing of the head of the resistance movement during the occupation of East Timor.
- The former son-in-law of Suharto, who considers himself his successor.
Now, he finally became the leader through the presidential election, having long distanced himself from the Suharto family, but the military spirit in his bones is hard to hide. Don't misunderstand, he's not trying to return to dictatorship, but he wants the Indonesian military to return to the top tier, which is obvious to everyone.
The problem is, wanting to expand the military always needs a reason. Indonesia currently has no enemies, and is getting along well: a new member of BRICS, a long-time friend of the United States, and has signed free trade agreements with the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union led by Russia, as well as a dynamic relationship with China. Without an enemy, how to spend military funds? Then come up with a "peacekeeping" - it's glamorous, doesn't cause trouble domestically, and can gain international prestige, which is a win-win situation.
The International Machinations Behind the "Peacekeeping" Scheme
Indonesia is no stranger to peacekeeping. After Suharto fell, the new government sent the military to the UN for peacekeeping to accommodate the military. This time, Prabowo wants to take it to a large scale - directly sending 20,000 active-duty troops. The key point is that Russia will definitely like this idea: Indonesia buys Russian weapons and is willing to send troops for peacekeeping, which is beneficial for Moscow.
Don't forget, the war in Ukraine isn't over yet. Zelensky needs to keep going until both funds and manpower are exhausted. If there is ever a negotiation phase, the Ukrainian side will inevitably require foreign peacekeeping forces to ensure security. Russia has already stated: NATO troops won't come, and China? Kyiv doesn't want it. The West certainly won't agree to Chinese troops. But Indonesia? Everyone can accept - a neutral role that is neither painful nor annoying, who would object?
One-Sentence Commentary
Although Indonesia claims to "protect peace," this is actually "giving its army an international stage." It can strengthen its military without offending any side, and can also get a share of international voice from major powers - this operation is truly a high-spirited military politics.
Prabowo's move is both stable and clever. If he really sends 20,000 peacekeeping troops, it will truly be a new way to play Indonesia's "military tradition."
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7555302825685795362/
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