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This Week in AsiaPolitics

Macron touts France-Indonesia ties with defence deals, backs Prabowo’s push for Palestine

The French president’s trip to Jakarta strengthened defence and economic links, securing deals and discussing Indonesia’s potential shift in stance on Israel

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France’s President Emmanuel Macron (left) laughs with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at a joint press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE
Resty Woro Yuniar
President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s deepening defence and economic ties with Indonesia during a visit to Jakarta, where the two countries signed a raft of major agreements and pledged to expand cooperation in areas ranging from arms procurement to nutrition and investment.
The war in Gaza was also discussed, with President Prabowo Subianto signalling a potential diplomatic shift by stating that Indonesia could recognise Israel – if it first acknowledges a sovereign Palestinian state – a stance Macron welcomed as part of broader efforts to promote peace in the Middle East.
Macron arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday evening after visiting Vietnam, where Hanoi signed more than US$10 billion in deals with French firms. His Indonesia stop, however, was as much about politics as it was about contracts – underscoring France’s expanding presence in Southeast Asia.
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During Macron’s trip, several key defence agreements were signed, including a letter of intent for 42 Rafale fighter jets, two Scorpene submarines and 13 Thales long-range radar systems, according to Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who spoke to reporters on Tuesday after he welcomed the French leader at an air force base in Jakarta.

At a joint press conference on Wednesday, Prabowo said France was “one of Indonesia’s main partners in modernising defence equipment” and their defence ties reflected “a joint commitment to maintaining regional stability”.

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The two leaders are set to visit a military academy in Central Java on Thursday, as part of efforts to deepen cooperation through joint training and capacity-building for Indonesian troops.

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