Prabowo Alleges USD31 Trillion Taken by Netherlands During Colonial Rule at Indo Defense Opening

Jakarta: President Prabowo Subianto claimed that the Netherlands extracted an estimated USD31 trillion in wealth from Indonesia during its colonial rule. He cited a recent study as the source of this figure.

"According to a study published a few weeks ago, the Netherlands took resources from Indonesia valued at USD31 trillion in today’s terms during their colonization of our country," Prabowo said during the opening of the Indo Defense Expo & Forum at JIEXPO Kemayoran, North Jakarta, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

He compared this amount to Indonesia’s current Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which stands at around USD1.5 trillion, highlighting how massive the estimated loss was.

"That’s roughly equivalent to 18 times our current GDP, or what would be the equivalent of 144 years of Indonesia’s national budget," President noted.

Prabowo stressed that this historical context serves as a powerful reminder for Indonesia to safeguard its wealth and sovereignty. He also underscored the necessity of investing in national defense to protect the country's future.

"History shows that nations that fail to invest in their own defense often lose their autonomy and are vulnerable to subjugation. Those that don’t defend themselves often become slave nations," President warned.