Prabowo and Macron Pledge to Deepen Strategic Partnership as RI-France Ties Turn 75
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — President Prabowo Subianto welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, May 28, as the two leaders commemorated 75 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and France. The high-level meeting reinforced a decade-long strategic partnership and highlighted a shared commitment to expand cooperation in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.
"Welcome to Indonesia, and thank you for this great honor," President Prabowo said at the start of the bilateral meeting. “This year marks the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations and over a decade of our strategic partnership.”
The Government of Indonesia formally established diplomatic ties with France in 1950. The relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership in 2011, encompassing collaboration in defense, trade, education, and environmental issues.
Prabowo emphasized that the bilateral relationship has been grounded in strong political cooperation and mutual respect for shared principles, including national sovereignty, human rights, and democracy.
“Our partnership is founded on robust political cooperation, rooted in mutual respect and shared values of sovereignty, independence, human rights, and democracy,” he said.
Despite significant progress, Prabowo noted that there remain untapped opportunities for further collaboration, particularly in trade, technology, and sustainable development. He welcomed the timing of Macron’s visit amid global geopolitical and geo-economic uncertainty.
“I value today’s meeting given the current state of global geopolitics and geo-economics, which is marked by unpredictability,” said Prabowo. “France and Indonesia can make meaningful contributions to global stability.”
President Macron, in turn, expressed gratitude for Indonesia’s warm reception and affirmed the importance of the visit in advancing the two nations’ strategic ties.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity to create new milestones in our strategic partnership,” Macron said, citing shared priorities in economic development, technological innovation, and security.
Macron’s visit underscores France’s growing interest in Southeast Asia and its Indo-Pacific strategy. The French leader’s stop in Jakarta follows broader European efforts to strengthen ties with regional powers amid shifting dynamics in global trade and security.