InterRegional for Strategic Analysis

Defense cooperation between France and Indonesia has significantly expanded in recent years, as the two countries have steadily developed ties across a range of sectors. In keeping with his view that Indonesia is a cornerstone of France's Indo-Pacific strategy, French President Emmanuel Macron has played a pivotal role in advancing relations between the two countries. On the Indonesian side, former President Joko Widodo laid the groundwork for closer bilateral ties, while the current president, Prabowo Subianto, has elevated the partnership to a broader strategic level.A major milestone in May 2025 was the signing of a <a href="https://www.elysee.fr/en/emmanuel-macron/2025/05/28/joint-statement-between-the-president-of-the-republic-of-indonesia-h-e-prabowo-subianto-and-the-president-of-the-french-republic-h-e-emmanuel-macron-on-the-state-visit-by-h-e-emmanuel-macron-to-indonesia-politics" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Declaration on a Joint Vision </a>"towards 100 years of France-Indonesia diplomatic relations in 2050." Commonly referred to as Joint Vision 2050, the declaration has since served as the principal strategic framework guiding the evolution of bilateral relations between the two countries.Steady ExpansionA number of recent developments point to the steady expansion of France–Indonesia relations across a wide range of sectors, including the following:1. Prabowo's Three Visits to Paris During the First Half of 2026: Prabowo and Macron have met three times during 2026 alone, most recently during the Indonesian president’s official visit to France in May. Prabowo also made a brief stop in Paris in January of this year following his participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In April 2026, Prabowo traveled to Paris from Moscow after holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. These meetings were preceded by President Macron's visit to Jakarta in May 2025 as part of his Southeast Asian tour, which also included Vietnam and Singapore.2. Upgrading Bilateral Relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: During Prabowo's visit to Paris in May 2026, he and Macron announced that bilateral relations had been elevated to a <a href="https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-and-france-to-upgrade-ties-to-comprehensive-strategic-partnership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Comprehensive Strategic Partnership</a> founded on the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and mutual benefit.To advance this objective, the two leaders agreed to develop a concrete implementation framework for the partnership by building on existing bilateral mechanisms and priority areas of cooperation. They also instructed their respective governments and relevant institutions—including both countries' development finance institutions—to identify key deliverables, implementation timelines, and areas for enhanced coordination in support of each country's national development priorities.3. Indonesia Becomes France's Largest Defense Customer in Southeast Asia: <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2026/01/indonesia-takes-delivery-of-first-french-made-rafale-fighter-jets/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Defense cooperation</a> between Paris and Jakarta has expanded rapidly under Prabowo, who previously oversaw Indonesia's extensive military modernization program as minister of defense before assuming the presidency.Indonesia has concluded a series of major defense procurement agreements and become France's largest arms purchaser in Southeast Asia. Among the most significant of these deals are a 2022 agreement to acquire 42 Rafale fighter aircraft, valued at approximately $8.1 billion, and a 2024 agreement to purchase Scorpène-class submarines.The two countries also signed a new Letter of <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/france-indonesia-sign-agreement-that-could-lead-to-further-defense-purchases/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Intent on defense cooperation</a> during Macron's visit to Jakarta in May 2025, laying the groundwork for additional defense agreements on air power, defense technologies, and strategic weapons systems. Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta, Macron stated that the agreement "could open up a new perspective with new orders for Rafales, Scorpènes, light frigates."4. Institutionalizing 2+2 Diplomatic and Defense Dialogue: Under the France–Indonesia Joint Action Plan (2022–2027), the two countries have sought to institutionalize diplomatic and defense consultation through 2+2 dialogue, which brings together the foreign and defense ministers of both countries. Indonesia maintains this format with only a very <a href="https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/information-by-country/indonesia/france-and-indonesia" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">limited number</a> of strategic partners, and France became the first country outside Asia to establish such an institutional dialogue mechanism with Indonesia.The inaugural ministerial meeting was held in July 2023, with the participation of then-Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and then-Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto. In March 2025, both governments agreed to resume regular consultations between their foreign and defense ministers on regional and global issues within the 2+2 framework.High-level defense exchanges likewise intensified during this time. Then-French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu visited Jakarta in November 2022 and again in late January 2025, coinciding with the docking of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle off the Indonesian island of Lombok—a move that reflected the growing operational and maritime cooperation between the two countries.5. Growing French Investment in Indonesia: France has become one of Indonesia's <a href="https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/information-by-country/indonesia/political-and-economic-relations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">leading European</a> economic partners, with bilateral economic ties expanding significantly during President Macron's tenure. French companies have been encouraged to invest in infrastructure, energy, and advanced industries.By the end of 2023, cumulative French investment in Indonesia exceeded €3.8 billion, with more than 200 subsidiaries of French companies operating in the Indonesian market and employing over 50,000 people. Economic reforms introduced under former President Joko Widodo also played an important role in attracting French investment, particularly in the transportation, aviation, and renewable energy sectors.6. Building a Bilateral Partnership in Nuclear and Clean Energy: During 2025 and 2026, the energy sector <a href="https://www.reccessary.com/en/news/france-expands-nuclear-and-green-energy-cooperation-in-southeast-asia" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">emerged</a> as one of the most promising areas of France–Indonesia cooperation. Both countries agreed to expand collaboration in research and development for non-fossil energy while revitalizing their existing partnership on peaceful uses of nuclear energy.Areas of cooperation include scientific exchanges, human capital development, and joint research on nuclear reactors and clean-energy technologies, including small and medium-sized modular reactors suited to Indonesia's archipelagic geography.This cooperation gained further momentum during President Macron's 2025 Southeast Asia tour, when he reaffirmed France's support for Indonesia's energy transition through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and expressed that Paris was ready to provide technical and regulatory expertise in civil nuclear energy.7. A Joint Strategy to Strengthen Cooperation in Education: In May 2026, France and Indonesia adopted a <a href="https://www.opinion-internationale.com/2026/06/01/joint-french-indonesian-strategy-on-education-research-and-mobility-paris-may-28-2026_142708.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joint Strategy on Education</a>, Research, and Academic Mobility in order to expand cooperation in high-quality education, scientific research, innovation, and human capital development to address global challenges, including climate change, food security, global health, digital transformation, and clean energy.The strategy places particular emphasis on gender equality, increasing women's participation in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and artificial intelligence, while also strengthening teacher training, vocational education, tourism and hospitality training programs, language learning, and the exchange of expertise in public-sector capacity building. It further designates the France–Indonesia Year of Innovation 2026 as a flagship platform for deepening scientific and technological cooperation.The two governments also agreed to expand joint research partnerships, scientific conferences, and collaboration between French and Indonesian research institutions. They pledged to increase scholarships and exchange opportunities for students, researchers, and faculty members, promote dual-degree programs between universities, expand the joint France–Indonesia scholarship program, and establish mutual recognition of language proficiency certifications. In addition, they agreed to create institutional mechanisms to monitor and periodically evaluate implementation, reflecting both countries' determination to make education, scientific research, and innovation a central pillar of the France–Indonesia partnership through 2050.Drivers of RapprochementThe growing rapprochement between Indonesia and France can be explained by several key drivers, most notably the following:1. France's Importance in Indonesia's New Defense and Procurement Strategy: Prabowo has adopted a domestic and foreign policy <a href="https://thediplomat.com/tag/indonesia-military-modernization/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">agenda</a> with a strong defense orientation, reflecting his professional background as Indonesia's former minister of defense. Under his leadership, Indonesia has shown considerable openness to strengthening its defense capabilities through a series of arms procurement agreements with the United States, China, France, Japan, and Turkey.At the same time, Jakarta seeks to <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2023/09/can-indonesia-afford-its-big-military-modernization-plans/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">modernize</a> its armed forces while remaining mindful of its fiscal constraints. Its approach combines the acquisition of second-hand military equipment with access to advanced, high-performance defense technologies from countries willing to provide them without imposing costly political conditions.2. French Partnership Aligns with Indonesia's Domestic and Foreign Policy Priorities: <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2023/11/where-does-indonesias-prabowo-subianto-stand-on-foreign-policy/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prabowo's</a> foreign policy is anchored in a good-neighbor diplomacy of non-alignment. This means that Indonesia seeks to maintain balanced relations with major powers such as the United States and China, while upholding neutrality, avoiding confrontational policies, and pursuing a pragmatic approach to international partnerships.At the same time, Prabowo places domestic priorities ahead of foreign policy objectives, viewing the latter primarily as a means to improve citizens' welfare, particularly through poverty reduction and economic growth.Within this framework, Prabowo sees cooperation with France as an integral part of this broader strategy. On the one hand, the partnership helps Indonesia maintain a balanced relationship with Europe while diversifying its external partnerships beyond the constraints of U.S.-China strategic competition. On the other hand, France is regarded as a reliable European economic and defense partner capable of supporting Indonesia's investment, economic, and development priorities.3. Converging Positions on Major International Issues: France and Indonesia <a href="https://en.antaranews.com/news/417236/indonesia-france-back-two-state-solution-for-palestinian-independence" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">share</a> broadly similar positions on a number of international issues. Both countries support the two-state solution as the preferred framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They also both seek to safeguard their economic and strategic interests in the <a href="https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2026/05/28/prabowo-seeks-to-elevate-ties-with-france-amid-challenging-geopolitical-landscape" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Indo-Pacific</a> while supporting the emergence of a multipolar international order.Prabowo has praised several of Macron's international <a href="https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2026/05/28/prabowo-seeks-to-elevate-ties-with-france-amid-challenging-geopolitical-landscape" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">initiatives</a>, including his efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine.4. A Less Fraught History for France–Indonesia Relations: Unlike several other European powers, France has virtually no colonial legacy in Indonesia—apart from a brief period during the Napoleonic Wars. This provides Paris with a significant diplomatic advantage as it seeks to deepen its strategic partnership with Jakarta, particularly when contrasted with France's more complicated relationships with several Pacific islands and former French colonies in East Asia.This favorable environment has been reinforced by the openness of Indonesia's economic and <a href="https://www.opinion-internationale.com/2026/05/28/harold-hyman-the-inevitable-win-win-relationship-between-indonesia-and-france_142612.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cultural</a> elites toward France, as well as the longstanding presence of French archaeologists working in Indonesia in cooperation with French institutions, particularly the French National Museum of Natural History.5. France Tries to Offset Indo-Pacific Setback Following AUKUS: The creation of the AUKUS security partnership represented a significant strategic setback for France in the Indo-Pacific.In <a href="https://www.euractiv.com/news/australia-submarines-how-the-contract-of-the-century-fell-apart/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2016</a>, France and Australia signed an agreement under which Paris would supply 12 submarines to Canberra. However, Australia later canceled the deal after joining the AUKUS partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom, under which it would instead acquire nuclear-powered submarines.The cancellation dealt a major blow to France's Indo-Pacific strategy, making Jakarta an increasingly important partner in helping Paris restore its regional presence and strategic balance in light of expanding defense and security cooperation.ConclusionOverall, evolving geopolitical and security dynamics have motivated France and Indonesia to deepen their partnership. The leadership of both Macron and Prabowo has played a central role in advancing this rapprochement.Beyond cooperation in education, culture, and development—which constitute important pillars of bilateral soft power—defense and energy have emerged as the principal strategic areas of cooperation. Indonesia seeks to strengthen its defense capabilities through French arms acquisitions while also drawing on French expertise to expand its clean energy sector, particularly in the field of civil nuclear energy.Looking ahead, bilateral cooperation is expected to both deepen and expand under the framework of the France–Indonesia Joint Vision 2050.

Why France and Indonesia Are Cultivating Closer Ties?