French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday as part of his three-nation Southeast Asian tour, signalling France’s intent to deepen strategic and economic ties with one of the region’s most influential players, Indonesia. Macron, accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron and a senior French delegation, was welcomed at the Jakarta airport by Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. His visit to Indonesia comes on the heels of a high-profile stop in Vietnam, where the two countries signed more than $10 billion in agreements. The French leader’s regional tour will conclude with a visit to Singapore later this week, where he is scheduled to address the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defence summit.
Macron’s itinerary in Indonesia is packed. On Wednesday, he met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for high-level talks focused on strengthening cooperation in key sectors such as defence, energy transition, food security, and digital transformation. The meeting was marked by a grand military parade, attended by hundreds of schoolchildren, underscoring the symbolic significance of Macron’s three-day visit during the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
“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, defence, digital transformation, and cultural exchange,” President Prabowo posted on X (formerly Twitter). Macron’s schedule includes stops at the Magelang Military Academy in Yogyakarta, the world-famous Borobudur Temple, and a French language lab used by the Indonesian armed forces — all aimed at reinforcing bilateral ties not only at the governmental but also at the cultural and educational levels.
Defence Ties under the Spotlight
A central focus of the visit is defence cooperation. Indonesia is France’s top arms customer in Southeast Asia, and the two countries have inked major defence deals over the past few years. In 2022, they signed an $8.1 billion agreement that included Indonesia’s order of 42 Rafale fighter jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation, alongside commitments on submarine development and ammunition supply. While no Rafale jets have been delivered yet, the Indonesian Air Force confirmed earlier this year that the first six are expected to arrive in early 2026. More recently, in 2024, Indonesia signed an agreement with France’s state-owned Naval Group to purchase two Scorpene-class submarines, and in 2023 it secured a deal for 13 long-range air surveillance radars from French defence giant Thales.
“Some commitments need follow-up, and Indonesia has shown interest in additional military hardware, but there has been no progress yet,” said Khairul Fahmi, a defence expert at the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies in Jakarta. Analysts believe Macron’s visit aims to push forward these pending deals and explore new avenues for military cooperation, particularly as Indonesia ramps up efforts to modernize its defence capabilities.
Energy and Mining Interests
Beyond defence, Macron’s delegation includes Paulo Castellari, the new CEO of the French mining group Eramet. The company, a major player in Indonesia’s nickel sector, is expected to discuss mining permits related to the Weda Bay nickel mine, one of the largest in the world. Indonesia is the largest global producer of nickel, a critical mineral for the electric vehicle (EV) industry, and Eramet has been eyeing opportunities in nickel processing after shelving a plant project with BASF last year. The French delegation is also in talks with Indonesia’s newly established sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, to explore investments across the battery supply chain — a key part of Indonesia’s ambitions to become a hub for EV battery production.
A Strategic Southeast Asia Pivot
Macron’s visit to Indonesia follows his weekend stop in Vietnam, where he sealed multi-billion-dollar deals spanning energy, transportation, and infrastructure. He is scheduled to fly to Singapore on Thursday, where he will cap off his tour by delivering a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue. France’s outreach to Southeast Asia aligns with its broader Indo-Pacific strategy, aimed at diversifying partnerships, asserting its role as a resident power in the region, and counterbalancing the growing influence of China.
For Indonesia, Macron’s visit offers a chance to reaffirm its status as a key player in the Indo-Pacific while leveraging French technology and investment to support its ambitious development goals. As both nations look ahead to the next 75 years of diplomatic relations, the outcomes of this visit could shape the future of Franco-Indonesian cooperation across defence, industry, energy, and beyond.
