Prabowo Claims Dutch Extracted US$31 Trillion from Indonesia During Colonization

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto alleged that the Netherlands had extracted wealth equivalent to US$31 trillion from Indonesia during the colonial era. He made the remark at the opening of the Indo Defence 2024 exhibition held in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

In his address, Prabowo said the figure was based on a study he read several weeks ago, which estimated that the value of resources taken by the Dutch, when adjusted to present-day value, amounted to US$31 trillion.

"During the Dutch occupation, the Netherlands took our wealth worth US$31 trillion," said Prabowo at the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

He noted that Indonesia's current Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stands at US$1.5 trillion, adding that the figure cited in the research is 18 times greater than that.

"18 times our GDP, or roughly equivalent to our budget for 140 years," he said.

Prabowo also claimed that during the colonial period, the Netherlands had the world’s highest per capita GDP, but he did not name the study he referred to.

Using irony, Prabowo remarked on Indonesia’s deep-rooted politeness toward visitors, suggesting that the Dutch were reluctant to leave due to the nation's warm hospitality.

"We are very respectful toward our guests, to the point where some didn’t want to leave for hundreds of years. We were forced to fight," he said. "I affirm that for us, war is the last resort; we only fight if it's necessary."

At the same event, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin announced that 18 contracts valued at Rp33 trillion would be signed during the exhibition. He added that between 2020 and June 2025, a total of 792 contracts had been made with domestic defense industries, amounting to Rp230 trillion.

"This shows the Ministry of Defense's commitment to promote national economic growth through defense," said Sjafrie.

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