Prabowo reveals he blocked attempts to sell state defense firms to foreign buyers

President Prabowo Subianto has disclosed that he personally intervened to prevent the sale of Indonesia's strategic state-owned defense companies to foreign entities. These companies, he stated, were targeted for sale under the guise of poor profitability.

During the inauguration of the Meninting Dam in West Lombok, Prabowo asserted his firm stance against the divestment of national defense assets. "There were so many companies that seemed to want to be sold to foreigners, I forbade it!" he declared, specifically naming PT PAL, PT Pindad, and PT Dirgantara Indonesia as targets that were either to be sold or shut down.

Prabowo, who served as Minister of Defense from 2019 to 2024, emphasized the turnaround these companies have experienced since being consolidated under the Defend ID holding in 2022. He pointed to significant international achievements, such as PT Pindad securing a major contract to produce rifles and machine guns for the Saudi Arabian military.

Furthermore, state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia has reportedly transitioned from producing hospital ships to constructing advanced warships and submarines. The company is currently fabricating two advanced Scorpene-class submarines for Indonesia in partnership with France's Naval Group, with construction taking place at PT PAL's Surabaya facilities.