Macron visits Indonesia; bilateral ties, defense cooperation on agenda

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, where the two leaders were expected to discuss strengthening cooperation across key sectors including defense, energy, food security, and digital transformation.

Macron was welcomed with a grand military parade attended by hundreds of school children, marking a symbolic start to his official three-day visit, which comes during the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Indonesia.

"This visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations between Indonesia and France and is a momentum to strengthen partnerships in various strategic sectors, including energy transition, food security, defense, digital transformation, and cultural exchange," Prabowo said on X.

Macron arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday after concluding a state visit to Vietnam. His itinerary includes stops at the Magelang Military Academy, the historic Borobudur Temple, and a French language lab utilized by the Indonesian armed forces.

Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has said that defense cooperation was high on the agenda. Talks reportedly would include discussions on Indonesia's potential procurement of French-made Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene Evolved submarines, part of a broader effort to boost Jakarta's military capabilities.