Indonesia, France to Deepen Defense Ties With New Pact
Presidents Macron and Prabowo to sign defense letter during Macron’s Jakarta visit. Agreement builds on $10 billion in prior deals for Rafale jets and Scorpène submarines.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to sign a new letter of intent to expand their nations’ defense partnership, deepening military cooperation during Macron’s state visit to Jakarta on Wednesday.
The upcoming pact follows Indonesia’s multibillion-dollar procurement of French military hardware, including a 2022 contract for 42 Rafale fighter jets worth $8.1 billion and a $2.16 billion loan-backed deal in 2024 for two Scorpène-class submarines.
Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the letter will focus on “strategic defense equipment,” indicating potential future acquisitions and broader technological collaboration.
Macron's Indo-Pacific Ambitions
Macron’s visit, one of the first by a Western leader since Prabowo took office in October, reinforces France’s Indo-Pacific strategy. With Southeast Asia increasingly caught between U.S.-China rivalry, Macron aims to position France—and the EU—as a balancing force.
Indonesia, the region’s largest economy, offers a strategic foothold. Macron’s trip also includes stops in Vietnam and Singapore, and he is set to speak at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Trade Pressures Shape Defense Dialogue
The pact comes as Indonesia also weighs major U.S. arms purchases amid threats of a 32% tariff by President Trump on Indonesian exports. The defense letter with France could signal Jakarta’s intent to diversify its military and trade dependencies.
Meanwhile, the EU is advancing trade talks with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, aiming to reduce reliance on volatile U.S. trade policy and foster deeper commercial partnerships across Asia.