Prabowo: Indonesia-France Relations at Their Best Ever

Indonesia and France relations are at their best ever, President Prabowo Subianto stated during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday. “Your Excellency, Indonesia-France relations are at their best ever,” said President Prabowo.

Prabowo assessed the bilateral relationship is excellent and aligned on several international stances, attributing this to President Macron’s direct support. “In several aspects, Indonesia and France share the same stance, and our bilateral relations are currently very strong. This is solely due to President Macron’s direct support,” he said.

President Prabowo said defence ties between Indonesia and France are strong, with scientific and technological cooperation progressing. On education, he stressed the Indonesian government aims to enhance cooperation with France, having instructed all school levels to teach French. “Now I have instructed that all levels of Indonesian schools must learn French, in view of future global developments,” he said.

Furthermore, President Prabowo expressed appreciation for the warm reception extended by the French government during his delegation’s visit to Paris. He noted he has visited France three times this year. Last year, Indonesia was honoured to be invited to participate in France’s National Day Military Parade (Bastille Day) on 14 July 2025. “Last year, Indonesia received great honour for being invited to participate in the Bastille Day parade, the national day of the French Republic. This is a tremendous honour, perhaps making us the first Asian nation to march in Europe,” he said.

President Prabowo’s visit to France this week was to fulfill a previously delayed invitation from President Emmanuel Macron. The invitation for a return visit was extended by Macron during Prabowo’s last visit to Paris last month. Macron had proposed rescheduling the visit to late May, which Prabowo carried out this week. The state visit forms part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.

The ministers accompanying Prabowo included Foreign Minister Sugiono, Investment and Downstreaming Minister and Danantara CEO Rosan Roeslani, and Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto. Also present were President Prabowo’s son, Ragowo Hediprasetyo (also known as Didit Hediprasetyo), and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.