After French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Jakarta in May, Prabowo Subianto stood as the guest of honor at the July 14 Bastille Day military parade in Paris. Beyond symbolism, this moment reflected a growing diplomatic, political, and military convergence between France and Indonesia. Given their history, their respective geopolitical situations, and their shared strategic interests, the two countries were meant for each other – and destined to work together. Their rapprochement is less a diplomatic adjustment than a return to structural normality.
France long overlooked the Indonesian reality – its demographic weight, economic rise, and growing geopolitical relevance – focusing instead on other ASEAN partners for various reasons: Malaysia due to the Chirac-Mahathir personal connection, Singapore for trade, and Vietnam for historical ties. It wasn’t until 1986 that a French president visited Jakarta, and the second visit came more than three decades later.
A real turning point occurred in 2011, when the two countries elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership. Since then, and probably to catch up, bilateral ties have gained unprecedented momentum, with the partnership now standing as a key pillar of Europe’s broader engagement with Southeast Asia.
A Common Geopolitical Language
In an increasingly fragmented “apolar world,” Paris and Jakarta are natural partners. They often speak the same geopolitical language.
Both are ancient land (or agrarian) and sea powers (Srivijaya was rising as a hegemon when Charlemagne was crowned emperor in 800). Both are regional leaders in their respective organizations (ASEAN and the European Union), with multilateral agencies and driven by the similar diplomatic doctrines, which in both states have been quite consistent since the 1950s: bebas aktif (sovereign, free, and active) in Indonesia and gaullo-mitterrandism in France. Mohamed Hatta’s declaration in 1948 about “paddling between two rocks” foreshadowed de Gaulle’s speeches in Mexico or Phnom Penh in the mid-1960s, asserting national independence amid great power rivalry.
In previous crises, it happened that Indonesia’s kebebasan (the idea of freedom or sovereignty) overshadowed keaktifan (the need for action and initiative), giving sometimes a feeling of ambiguity, even passivity. In France as well, during the Sarkozy and Hollande mandates, some analysts warned about the end of the French “singularity,” especially in the Middle East.
The exchange of presidential visits to Jakarta and Paris represents a return to the traditional foundations of diplomacy. Both Macron and Prabowo believe that their nations cannot afford silence or neutrality; as leaders, they show a strong appetite for international relations and are adopting more assertive or disruptive positions than their predecessors. Anchored in strategic autonomy (Macron) or kebebasan, they can engage with great powers and participate in international negotiations to promote a rules-based (rather than hegemonic) order. This explains their consistent positions on current international issues: supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity while maintaining a degree of engagement with Russia, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, avoiding direct confrontation with China – an approach Macron defended at the 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue.
There is still much to do, especially in terms of “human security” (as defined by the United Nations), through a “coalition of action” or a “coalition of countries that will not be bullied” – without hegemons but possibly with “abang” or older brothers (certainly not “bapak” or fathers), to provide equipment and expertise only if needed. Paris and Jakarta can endorse this role, while acknowledging the “South momentum,” partly based on the “Weakness Politics,” in the wake of the 1955 Bandung Conference. This vision is fully consistent with Macron’s broader push for a “third way” in international affairs, recognizing ASEAN’s central role in the Indo-Pacific.
Thriving Defense Cooperation
Beyond these uninhibited diplomacies, military cooperation is now the cornerstone of the Franco-Indonesian strategic partnership.
The French defense industry has significantly benefited from Jakarta’s ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces. Since 2021, Indonesia has acquired 42 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation, two Scorpène-class submarines from Naval Group – built locally by PT PAL with substantial technology transfers – 13 Ground Master 400 long-range radars from Thales, and two Airbus A400M transport aircraft. Today, Indonesia ranks as France’s second-largest defense customer in the Indo-Pacific, after India.
These shared military capabilities are matched by growing operational cooperation. The Pégase air projection missions, the Garuda Guerrier land exercises, and the Komodo naval drills all illustrate this deepening strategic alignment. A symbolic milestone came in February 2025, when the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier docked in Lombok – its first port call in Indonesia. French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu travelled to the archipelago and hosted his Indonesian counterpart, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, aboard the flagship vessel, foreshadowing a new chapter of political-military momentum. In August 2025, the French Armed Forces will participate in Super Garuda Shield, the largest multinational joint military exercise in Southeast Asia, organized by the Indonesian National Armed Forces.
Building on this growing interoperability, the two countries launched a 2+2 strategic dialogue, bringing together their foreign and defense ministers – the first time Indonesia has joined such a format with a European partner.
Political Momentum or a New Normal?
As the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, Macron and Prabowo chose to publicly affirm the strength of bilateral ties through two state visits within weeks – a unique diplomatic gesture. But this moment signals something deeper: a maturing strategic bond between two regional powers seeking greater agency in an uncertain world.
The Joint Declaration released in May 2025, titled Horizon 2050, is a compelling example and reflects a shared ambition to deepen cooperation in the years ahead. Its 68 points cover a broad range of areas – from international governance to food security, energy transition, maritime cooperation, biodiversity, higher education, culture, sports, and the rule of law.
As the international order grows increasingly fragmented and transactional, France and Indonesia offer a vision of diplomacy grounded in independence, multilateralism, and pragmatic engagement. In the long term, such bilateral cooperation will serve as a vital bridge between Europe and Southeast Asia, reducing the risk of geopolitical conflicts and the pitfalls of divisive bloc politics.