Legislator Gerindra about Prabowo's visit to France: The beginning of the design of the Indo-Pacific economic and security architecture

President Prabowo Subianto with French President Emmanuel Macron/DOK via Instagram @prabowo

Member of the House of Representatives from the Gerindra Faction, Azis Subekti, said President Prabowo Subianto's visit to France was the beginning of the design of the Indo-Pacific economic and security architecture.

"History often moves in ways that people are not always aware of when the event occurs. When diplomats sign documents, when two heads of state talk behind closed doors, or when a state visit takes place far from the spotlight of everyday people, what appears on the surface is often just a ceremony. But time often proves that behind the seemingly ordinary events, the direction of the times begins to change," said Azis Subekti in his statement, Wednesday, June 3.

According to him, many people only understand the meaning of an event after decades have passed. When the Bretton Woods Conference took place in 1944, said Azis, not many imagined that the meeting would give birth to a post-World War II global economic order.

"When European countries began to build economic cooperation in the 1950s, not everyone saw the seeds of the European Union being planted. History teaches that major changes almost always begin with the awareness of leaders to read the future before the future comes," he said.

"In this context, President Prabowo Subianto's visit to France in May 2026 is worth understanding. Not merely as a bilateral visit between Jakarta and Paris, but as part of a larger process: Indonesia's efforts to place itself in the design space of the 21st century Indo-Pacific economic and security order," he continued.

The member of Commission II of the DPR said that the world is at one of the most important turning points since the end of the Cold War. The center of gravity of the global economy has shifted to Asia, the world's busiest trade route is in the Indo-Pacific region, technological competition is increasingly determining the strength of a nation, new energy is changing the industrial map, critical minerals are becoming strategic commodities whose value is close to the meaning of oil in the previous century.

At the same time, said Azis, the rivalry between major powers is hardening again, creating uncertainty that forces each country to determine its own position and interests.

"In the midst of change, Indonesia is no longer standing on the outskirts of the map. With a population of more than 280 million, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, a geographical position that connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and strategic mineral reserves that are raw materials for future industries, Indonesia is increasingly seen as one of the key countries in the Indo-Pacific. This awareness seems to be the foundation of the diplomacy carried out by President Prabowo," he said.

If you look closely, according to Azis, the pattern of Indonesian diplomacy in recent times shows something interesting. Indonesia does not move following a certain pole of power, relations with the United States continue to be maintained, relations with China continue to be developed, dialogue with Russia takes place, partnerships with Japan, South Korea, the Middle East, and Europe are strengthened simultaneously.

"In the midst of an increasingly divided world, Indonesia is actually expanding its circle of acquaintances. Some people may see it as diplomatic pragmatism. But behind it lies a more fundamental logic: a nation that wants to be a strategic actor must not be trapped as anyone's satellite," he said.

"And here is where France has a much greater meaning than what is visible on the surface. France is not only one of the largest economic powers in Europe. It is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a country with high technological capabilities, global defense industry power, a leader in the development of modern energy, and the only major country in the European Union that has a direct strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific region through its territory and military assets," continued Azis.

Therefore, Azis assessed, when President Emmanuel Macron called Indonesia France's main strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific, the statement could not be understood merely as polite diplomatic language. The statement reflects a new way of looking at Indonesia's position in the changing configuration of global power.

"Indonesia is no longer seen solely as a large market. Indonesia is increasingly seen as one of the determinants of regional balance," he said.

Azis also assessed that the view found a more concrete form when the two countries agreed to increase relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In the practice of modern diplomacy, according to him, this status is one of the highest levels of relations that can be built between countries.

"More importantly, the scope of the agreed cooperation shows that the two countries are talking about the future, not just short-term needs. Defense, maritime security, clean energy, education, innovation, research, investment, technology, critical minerals, strategic industries, to the coordination of various global issues are part of the agenda together," he said.

"At first glance, the list may look like a collection of stand-alone sectors. In fact, they are all interconnected in one ecosystem of modern state power," Azis added.

Azis explained that the 21st century is no longer determined by who has the most extensive territory or the largest population. Power now comes from the ability to master technology, secure supply chains, control innovation, maintain maritime stability, and build superior human resources.

"Therefore, it is interesting that almost all the foundations of future strength emerge in the Indonesia-France talks. When the two countries talk about critical minerals, they are actually talking about electric vehicle batteries, new energy industries, and high-tech manufacturing that will determine the economy of the next few decades," he explained.

"When they talk about research and innovation, what is being built is not only academic cooperation, but the ability of nations to remain relevant in the knowledge-based economy. When they discuss maritime security and defense, what is at stake is not only regional stability, but protection of trade routes that are the pulse of the Indo-Pacific economy," continued Azis.

In other words, he said, what is being designed is not just a bilateral cooperation project. But what is being built is the nodes that will later form the architecture of the region.

"This is where the Indonesian public needs to see the bigger picture. Until now, we have often viewed diplomacy from a too narrow angle. We calculate how many memorandums of understanding have been signed, how much investment value has been announced, or how many contracts have been successfully agreed upon. In fact, in the history of advanced nations, diplomacy is not just a transaction instrument. Diplomacy is an instrument of transformation," said Azis.

"Japan built its resurgence through technology diplomacy. South Korea used economic diplomacy to accelerate industrialization. Singapore used strategic diplomacy to make itself the world's trade and financial center," he continued.

The Gerindra legislator from the Central Java constituency emphasized that no country jumped to be advanced just because it had natural resources. They are advanced because they are able to connect resources, technology, capital, education, and national interests into one clear direction.

"Indonesia today has a similar opportunity. Nickel, copper, bauxite, and various strategic mineral reserves give Indonesia a position that many other countries do not have. However, these resources will only become a strength if they are connected to technology, investment, research, and industries that create added value in the country," he said.

Therefore, according to Azis, the most important meaning of this visit is not in the billions of dollars announced to the public. The real value lies in the possibility of the birth of technology transfer, strengthening the capacity of national industries, improving the quality of human resources, and opening the way for Indonesia to rise from a supplier of raw materials to an important player in the global value chain.

"The security dimension is no less important. The world is entering an era when threats do not always come in the form of troops crossing borders. Supply chain disruptions, cyber warfare, information manipulation, energy crises, and the scramble for strategic technologies now have an impact as serious as conventional military conflicts. In such a context, national security can no longer be separated from economic power," he said.

Azis emphasized that countries that rely on foreign technology will be vulnerable strategically. Countries that do not control important industries will be easily suppressed, and countries that fail to maintain their logistics lines will lose competitiveness.

Therefore, according to him, modern defense cooperation in essence is not about buying military equipment alone, but it is part of national capacity building so that a nation is able to stand firm in the midst of an increasingly uncertain world.

"Maybe that's why this visit feels different. What is being discussed is not just trade. Not just investment. Not just defense. What is being discussed is all the elements that make up the strength of a nation in this century. And when all these elements begin to be strung together simultaneously, what is being born is no longer just a bilateral relationship. What is being born is the foundation for a new role for Indonesia in the Indo-Pacific region," said Azis.

"Of course, history has not been completed. Not all agreements automatically produce success. Not all great visions will go according to plan. In the end, the measure of the success of this visit will be determined by the ability of both countries to translate commitments into action, as well as Indonesia's ability to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen its own economic foundation. However, history also teaches great nations to always be present when the rules of the game are being designed. They do not wait until the building is completed to then find a place in it. They participate in drafting the blue print from the beginning," he said.

Therefore, continued Azis, if the Indo-Pacific truly becomes the center of gravity of the world in the 21st century, and if Indonesia succeeds in taking a position as one of the determining forces in the region, then President Prabowo's visit to Paris may be remembered not as a usual diplomatic visit.

"It will be read as one of the moments when Indonesia begins to step from the audience room to the designer room; from merely following the flow of world changes to becoming one of the nations that help determine its direction," he said.

"And for a country that was once the center of world trade, was once the object of the great powers, and then fought a long time to rebuild its confidence, there is no more important historical task than ensuring that the Asian century that is being born is not only happening around Indonesia, but also shaped by Indonesia," concluded Azis.