Padang: Deputy Minister of Defense, Lt Gen. Muhammad Herindra, said on Tuesday that National Defense Day is expected to encourage people to remain united and contribute to national development.
“The challenges are becoming increasingly unexpected. We are not only fighting physical threats, but also unseen ones,” he said during the 75th National Defense Day commemoration in Padang, West Sumatra.
The COVID-19 pandemic, global conflicts, the technological revolution, and the climate crisis have had an impact on the country’s risk and resilience, he said.
To deal with this, all the nation’s children must have the spirit of protecting the country—a key pillar for building a strong nation.
“By having a spirit of national defense, we are not only tough but also smart in dealing with uncertain situations,” he added.
Herindra stated that the spirit to defend the country is not only the responsibility of the government, but also of the community.
The protection of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) is the duty of all Indonesians, he emphasized.
