Indonesia-France Relations Put to the Test

President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Paris this week marks a new chapter in Indonesia-France relations, which now extends beyond diplomatic cooperation to include investment, trade, strategic industries, and technology development. Several key agreements emerged from the visit, demonstrating both countries’ serious efforts to expand and diversify cooperation across various sectors. One strategic agreement is the establishment of the France-Indonesia High Level Business Council (FI-HLBC) during the 2026 Indonesia-France CEO Forum, attended by around 30 top executives from both nations, with a combined market capitalisation of approximately Rp23.23 quadrillion. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Indonesia has become one of France’s key partners in the Indo-Pacific region. “In this regard, Indonesia is a key partner in the Indo-Pacific for strengthening our sovereignty,” Macron said during a joint press conference with Prabowo at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday (28 May) local time. However, economic relations face challenges. Indonesia’s trade balance with France remains in deficit. In 2025, bilateral trade reached $2.69 billion, with Indonesian imports from France at $1.64 billion, higher than exports of $1.06 billion. The next challenge is ensuring that announced commitments are concretely implemented. Regulatory certainty, accelerated investment, technology transfer, and industrial cooperation implementation will be decisive factors for the long-term success of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Indonesia and France.