Prabowo: France Main Partner Of Indonesian Alutsista Modernization

President Prabowo Subianto held the hand of French President Emmanuel Macron after delivering a joint press statement at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (28/5/2025). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Galih Pradipta/sgd/toms.

JAKARTA - Prabowo Subianto said France is one of Indonesia's main partners in modernizing the main weapon system (defense defense equipment).

Presiden Prabowo saat menyampaikan pernyataan bersama dengan Presiden Prancis Emmanuel Macron, menjelaskan Indonesia dan Prancis saat ini bekerja sama dalam produksi bersama dan alih teknologi beberapa alutsista strategis.

"We certainly already have an Indonesia-France defense cooperation agreement. France is one of Indonesia's main partners in modernizing defense defense defense defense equipment, including in the development of the defense industry through joint production and technology transfer," said President Prabowo at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, May 28.

President Prabowo also highlighted the positive results of Indonesia's meeting with the 11th France Defense Dialogue (IFDD) in Jakarta on April 29, 2025, then increasing Indonesia's participation in joint military exercises held by France, including the 2025 La Perouse Multilateral Joint Exercise on January 16, 2025 in the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Malacca Strait, Sunda Strait, and Lombok Strait.

The joint exercise was attended by nine countries in the Indo-Pacific region, namely France, Indonesia, Canada, the United States, Malaysia, India, Australia, Britain, and Singapore.

President Prabowo then emphasized the commitment of the two countries to continue defense cooperation, including increasing human resources for the defense sector.

Indonesia-France defense cooperation is getting closer, including when President Prabowo served as defense minister in the 2019-2024 period.

During that period, Indonesia officially purchased 42 units of Rafale fighter jets made by the French company, Dassault Aviation, and also announced the purchase of two Scorpene submarines made by Naval Group, which is also a French company.

In addition, Indonesia also bought the GCI radar made by a French company, Thales.

In a series of events for President Macron's official visit to the Merdeka Palace today, President Macron and President Prabowo also witnessed the signing of two cooperation documents in the defense sector, namely a memorandum of understanding (MoU) of cooperation related to the protection of confidential information (MPCIA), and a letter of cooperation (LoI) regarding strategic defense cooperation between Indonesia and France.

The two cooperation documents were signed by Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu.