France Bestows State Honours on President Prabowo to Strengthen Partnership

Paris, France – President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, received state honours from the French Republic during a state visit in Paris on Thursday, 28 May 2026. The official welcoming ceremony at Les Invalides was led by French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, featuring a solemn military honours ceremony. France, as a major European nation and a permanent UN Security Council member with veto power, regards its relationship with Indonesia as a strategically evolving partnership. After the ceremony, President Prabowo proceeded to the Élysée Palace under an honour guard of 146 mounted troops and 27 motorised personnel. He was greeted at the palace by French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron at the main staircase. During the main agenda, Presidents Prabowo and Macron held bilateral and one-on-one meetings to discuss strategic issues of mutual interest. In a joint press statement, President Prabowo affirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with France amid increasingly complex global dynamics. He highlighted the importance of both nations in maintaining stability, peace, and mutually beneficial international cooperation. Key discussion areas included defence cooperation, clean energy development, education, research and innovation, and accelerating the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA). Both nations also emphasised enhancing mutually beneficial economic ties through increased investment and industrial collaboration. During the visit, the France-Indonesia High Level Business Council, initiated by Indonesia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and MEDEF International, was launched. The forum brought together 30 leading company executives from both countries with a combined market capitalisation of approximately USD 1.3 trillion. President Prabowo welcomed the initiative and praised French companies for expanding their presence and investments in Indonesia. The council aims to oversee the implementation of business agreements, memoranda of understanding (MoUs), and investments between the two nations. Four new commercial agreements were signed during the visit, focusing on energy security, trade, and defence cooperation. During French President Macron’s visit to Indonesia in May 2025, 27 MoUs were signed with a cooperation value exceeding USD 11 billion. Beyond bilateral relations, the leaders discussed global issues, particularly the Middle East situation, which impacts global energy stability and supply chains. President Prabowo reiterated Indonesia’s consistent support for a two-state solution to achieve peace in Palestine, stating that resolving the conflict peacefully is crucial for regional stability and security. The state visit marks a new chapter in Indonesia-France strategic partnership. The agreements reached are expected to deliver tangible benefits for economic development, national industrial strengthening, and enhancing both nations’ roles in global stability and peace. ‘The honours bestowed upon the President of the Republic of Indonesia are an honour for the nation and all Indonesians,’ as reflected in the dignified state welcome ceremony in Paris.