Prabowo's Third France Visit This Year: Key Outcomes

President Prabowo’s visit to France from Tuesday (26 May 2026) to Friday (29 May 2026) yielded concrete commitments in defence, economy, education, and global geopolitical issues. This marks Prabowo’s third visit to France this year, following trips in January and April. During bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, Prabowo stated that Indonesia-France relations are currently at their best point in history. “I agree, Your Excellency, that Indonesia-France relations are at their best level to date,” Prabowo said on Thursday (28 May 2026). Prabowo also viewed France as one of Indonesia’s key strategic partners amid ongoing global uncertainties and conflicts. He noted that bilateral cooperation continues to grow across sectors including defence, education, clean energy, science and technology, and investment. “We will certainly see more concrete, balanced, and impactful cooperation in the coming period,” Prabowo said. “Indonesia is a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific, and I am confident this aligns with President Prabowo’s views,” Macron said. He affirmed both countries’ commitment to strengthening strategic ties into a broader and deeper global partnership amid global geopolitical dynamics. In defence, Macron highlighted the arrival of the first Rafale fighter jets in Indonesia as a tangible symbol of the deepening bilateral relationship. Furthermore, Macron announced that Indonesia and France will conduct joint military exercises under the Pegasus Mission in September 2026. He stated that the two nations’ defence partnership has now reached an unprecedented level.