Indonesia expands defence ties with France on back of Moscow visit

Indonesia has agreed to expand defence industry cooperation with France just days after signing a major defence partnership with the United States and discussing energy ties with Russia. Jakarta made the announcement on Wednesday after a meeting between the two countries' presidents in Paris.

President Prabowo Subianto was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace on Tuesday, where both leaders “discussed strengthening strategic cooperation”, the Indonesian government said.

“This includes the procurement of defence equipment and the strengthening of the defence industry,” the statement said, adding that France is a strategic partner for Indonesia in Europe.

The two sides also agreed to cooperate on “energy transition and the development of new and renewable energy”.

Prabowo arrived in Paris directly from Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

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Oil pressure

Talks in the Russian capital focused on boosting Jakarta's strategic partnership with Moscow – "particularly in the sectors of energy, mineral resources, and national industrial development”, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said.

Recent visits have also taken Prabowo to South Korea and Japan. The travel has been presented as necessary to secure energy supplies.

“Brothers and sisters, it's to secure oil, I have to go everywhere,” Wijaya said in an address to his cabinet this month.

Indonesia has come under pressure from rising global oil prices linked to the war in the Middle East.

Jakarta says it is maintaining a non-aligned diplomatic posture, even after joining the Brics bloc last year, which includes Russia and China.

A trade deal has also been signed with US President Donald Trump, and Prabowo joined his so-called “Board of Peace”, while insisting Indonesia would not pay the €1 billion joining fee for permanent membership.

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France arms link

France is already a major supplier of military equipment to Indonesia. Prabowo, then defence minister, signed an €8.1 billion deal in 2022 for 42 French-made Rafale jets as part of efforts to modernise ageing military assets.

Washington also strengthened defence ties this week. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on Monday and announced a “major defence cooperation partnership”.

A joint statement highlighted both countries' “shared commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific”.

Indonesia said on Tuesday it was still considering a US request for overflight clearance, which analysts say could be seen as an alignment with Washington over Beijing.

(with newswires)