JAKARTA – French President Emmanuel Macron conducted a state visit to Indonesia on Tuesday evening, 27 May 2025, marking a new chapter in the strategic partnership between the two nations, which have maintained close ties for over seven decades.

President Prabowo welcomed his counterpart from Paris in a diplomatic meeting rich in geopolitical significance and long-term cooperation.

The official meeting between the two leaders was held on Wednesday, 28 May 2025, at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, with defence cooperation as a key agenda item.

Talks focused on strengthening collaboration in the defence equipment sector, particularly involving fighter jets and submarines.

“We will sign a Letter of Intent (LoI) with our French partners for the development of strategic defence systems,” said Minister of Defence Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who welcomed Macron at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta, in an official statement issued on Wednesday (28/5).

This visit forms part of Macron’s regional tour of Southeast Asia, with previous stops in Vietnam and an upcoming visit to Singapore.

Indonesia has emerged as a key client for the French defence industry in Southeast Asia. Major defence deals have been struck since 2022, including the purchase of 42 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation under an USD 8.1 billion contract, and the acquisition of two Scorpene submarines produced by Naval Group.

According to Air Force Chief of Staff Mohamad Tonny Harjono, six Rafale jets are expected to arrive in Indonesia in early 2026, as reported by state news agency Antara in February 2025.

Beyond defence systems, Macron’s visit also includes a focus on military education.

He is scheduled to visit the French language laboratory at the Military Academy (Akmil) in Magelang, part of a training programme for Indonesian Armed Forces cadets preparing for further studies in France.

On the economic front, France’s mining firm Eramet is also engaged in talks with the Indonesian government regarding mining permits in Weda Bay, a region rich in strategic nickel resources.

Ongoing discussions between Eramet and Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, aim to expand investment across the battery supply chain, including efforts to re-enter the nickel processing sector following the cancellation of a joint venture with BASF last year.

This meeting reaffirms the long-term partnership initiated in 2022, when Indonesia and France broadened their strategic cooperation to include not only defence but also renewable energy, education, trade, and environmental initiatives.

France continues to support Indonesia’s energy transition agenda through projects such as solar power plants and the FOLU Net Sink 2030 programme.

In addition, bilateral trade volume between Indonesia and France exceeded USD 2.5 billion in 2022, with Indonesia’s main exports comprising agricultural and electronic products, while France exports aircraft, heavy machinery, and medical technology. (EF/ZH)