Prabowo’s Intensive Diplomacy: A Double Reading of Paris Visits

President Prabowo’s fourth visit to France within the past year has drawn significant domestic attention. The visits began with his invitation to the Bastille Day military parade in July 2025, followed by attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2026, a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in April 2026, and most recently, a meeting with Macron in late May 2026. This raises questions about the diplomatic implications.

As a mature European nation-state, France holds strategic value for many countries, including Indonesia. Militarily, France ranks sixth globally according to Global Firepower 2026, with only Russia surpassing it in Europe. Its military doctrine emphasizes national independence, enabling it to produce advanced weaponry domestically and maintain a significant global arms market share.

Economically, France is the second-largest economy in the Eurozone, driven by tourism, a leading aviation industry, nuclear energy exports, and high-tech agricultural and livestock management. Its government has effectively built industrial connectivity from energy extraction to consumer goods, boosting domestic consumption and foreign currency reserves.