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Indonesia and France have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the defence industry following talks between their leaders in Paris, Jakarta said on Wednesday.
The agreement followed a meeting between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace on Tuesday, where both sides discussed what officials described as closer strategic cooperation.
According to a statement from the Indonesian government, Prabowo and Macron agreed to expand collaboration on the procurement of defence equipment and broader defence-industrial development, with France identified as a key European partner.
The two leaders also discussed cooperation in energy transition and renewable energy development, the statement added.
Prabowo’s visit to Paris came shortly after separate engagements with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and defence discussions in Washington, showcasing Jakarta’s recent diplomatic outreach across major global powers.
Following his meeting with Putin on Monday, Indonesian officials said both leaders had discussed strengthening strategic ties, particularly in energy, mineral resources, and industrial development.
Prabowo has defended his frequent international trips, saying they are aimed at securing national energy needs.
“Brothers and sisters, it’s to secure oil, I have to go everywhere,” he told his cabinet earlier this month.
Indonesia has faced pressure from rising global energy costs linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions, prompting Jakarta to maintain a balancing act between major powers while officially retaining a non-aligned foreign policy.
The country remains a major buyer of French military hardware, including a 2022 agreement for 42 Rafale fighter jets worth about $8.1 billion, part of its broader effort to modernise ageing defence systems.
Officials in Washington and Jakarta have also recently expanded defence cooperation, showcasing Indonesia’s growing strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific, particularly around the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes for oil and gas.
