President Prabowo Returns Directly to Jakarta After France State Visit
President Prabowo Subianto returned directly to Jakarta after a state visit to Paris, France, which began on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. The President departed from Paris Orly Airport for Jakarta on Friday, 29 May 2026.
According to a statement released by the Presidential Secretariat’s Bureau of Press, Media, and Information, Prabowo was escorted by several French officials, including Minister for Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Citizens Abroad Eléonore Caroit and Military Governor of Paris General Loïc Mizon. At the foot of the stairs, other officials who saw him off included French Ambassador to Indonesia Fabien Penone, Indonesian Ambassador to France Mohamad Oemar, and Indonesian Defence Attaché in Paris Air Vice Marshal Hendra Gunawan.
During the flight back to Jakarta, Prabowo was accompanied by Foreign Minister Sugiono and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. “During his stay in Paris, Prabowo undertook several important agendas to strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and France,” stated the Presidential Secretariat’s Bureau of Press, Media, and Information on Friday.
Previously, Prabowo was expected to continue his itinerary to Austria and Hungary after completing his agenda in France. Gerindra Party spokesperson Sugiat Santoso stated that Prabowo had initially planned to visit three European countries during this state visit in late May 2026.
“There are three European countries visited by President Prabowo in late May 2026: France, Austria, and Hungary. These three countries hold strategic positions required by Indonesia,” Sugiat said in a written statement on Friday, 29 May 2026.
Sugiat did not respond when asked for confirmation regarding the cancellation of Prabowo’s visits to Austria and Hungary. Government Communication Agency Head Muhammad Qodari also did not reply to confirmation messages sent via his mobile phone.
Sugiat previously stated that Prabowo is implementing an active, independent foreign policy through proactive diplomacy via visits to various countries. As Deputy Chairman of Commission XIII of the House of Representatives, he believes that repeated visits to France aim to build closer political ties with France, which possesses the strongest military and technology in Western Europe.
Sugiat then claimed that Prabowo’s marathon visits to France, Austria, and Hungary were strategically planned to secure investment and downstreaming opportunities. He added that Indonesia holds approximately 65% of the world’s nickel reserves, which are sought after by the global electric vehicle industry.