Indonesia, fresh off concluding a defence pact with Washington and an oil deal with Russia, has also agreed to boost defence industry cooperation with France, Jakarta said Wednesday after the countries’ presidents met in Paris.<\/p>\n
President Prabowo Subianto was hosted by counterpart Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace Tuesday, where they “discussed strengthening strategic cooperation,” a statement from the government said.<\/p>\n
“This includes the procurement of defence equipment and the strengthening of the defence industry,” it said, citing France as a strategic partner for Indonesia in Europe.<\/p>\n
The leaders also agreed on cooperation in “energy transition and the development of new and renewable energy”, it said.<\/p>\n
Prabowo met Putin at the Kremlin on Monday, flying directly from the Russian capital to Paris.<\/p>\n
With Putin, he had discussed “strengthening their strategic partnership, particularly in the sectors of energy, mineral resources, and national industrial development”, according to Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.<\/p>\n
Prabowo, who recently travelled to South Korea and Japan, has justified his slew of foreign visits.<\/p>\n
“Brothers and sisters, it’s to secure oil, I have to go everywhere,” he said in an address to his cabinet this month.<\/p>\n
Like many nations, Indonesia has come under pressure from soaring global oil prices over the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Jakarta, while defending a non-aligned diplomatic posture, last year joined the BRICS bloc of emerging economies that includes Russia and US-rival China.<\/p>\n
Prabowo has also signed a trade deal with US President Donald Trump and joined his so-called “Board of Peace”, although has insisted his country would not pay the $1 billion joining fee for permanent membership.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is a major arms buyer from France, with then-Defence Minister Prabowo inking a $8.1-billion deal in 2022 to purchase 42 French-made Rafale jets.<\/p>\n
Prabowo, a former military general who was elected president in 2024, has sought to modernise Indonesia’s ageing military assets.<\/p>\n
On Monday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and announced a “Major Defence Cooperation Partnership”.<\/p>\n
A joint statement underlined the countries’ “shared commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.”<\/p>\n
Indonesia is strategically located on the Malacca Strait \u2013- the world’s busiest chokepoint for oil and petroleum liquids, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).<\/p>\n
The vast majority of China-bound oil travels through Malacca Strait.<\/p>\n
Jakarta on Tuesday said it was still considering a US request for “overflight clearance” which, if approved, analysts say could be seen as an alignment with Washington over Beijing.<\/p>\n
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