JAKARTA – French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday during a visit designed to enhance defense and trade collaboration. This trip is part of Macron’s approximately week-long Southeast Asian tour, which aims to strengthen regional connections amid a challenging global environment.

Macron, accompanied by French First Lady Brigitte Macron, arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, on Tuesday evening. His visit to Southeast Asia’s largest economy spans three days and follows his earlier stop in Vietnam. In Vietnam, Macron secured an agreement to provide Hanoi with 20 Airbus aircraft.

Upon his arrival at Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma air base late Tuesday, Macron expressed his enthusiasm to the press for reuniting with President Prabowo. “We are thrilled to meet again, as he is both a dear friend and a valuable ally. Our relationship with your nation is profoundly strategic and amicable,” he remarked.

Military cooperation between Indonesia and France has grown in recent years, while Subianto was serving as Indonesia’s defense minister.

The two leaders met last November on the sidelines of the 2024 G20 Summit in Brazil, where they discussed Indonesia’s plans to buy fighter jets and submarines from France.

Indonesia finalized an order for 42 French Dassault Rafale fighter jets in January 2024, and the first delivery is expected in early 2026. The country also announced the purchase of two French Scorpene Evolved submarines and 13 Thales ground control interception radars. Five of the radar systems are expected to be installed in the country’s new capital, Nusantara.

Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the two leaders will oversee the signing of letter of intent for the procurement of strategic weapons systems including fighter planes and submarines.

“The essence of this (visit) is to strengthen defense cooperation between Indonesia and France,” Sjamsoeddin told reporters after welcoming Macron and his wife at the air force base on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Subianto hosted Macron and Brigitte in a ceremony at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta before the two leaders led a bilateral meeting.

Indonesia has embarked on a drive to upgrade and modernize its arsenal and strengthen its domestic defense industry.

Subianto has crisscrossed the globe since he was appointed as defense minister in 2019, traveling to China, France, Russia, Turkey and the United States in a bid to acquire new military weapon systems as well as surveillance and territorial defense capabilities.

The Indonesian Air Force currently operates a mix of fighter jets made in various countries, including the United States, Russia and Britain. Some of those aircraft have reached or will soon reach their end-of-life phase and need to be replaced or upgraded.

During the visit, Macron is also scheduled to meet with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn to discuss regional issues, and to give public lectures at Jakarta State University.

On Thursday, Macron and his wife are expected visit Borobudur, a 9th century Buddhist temple in the center of Indonesia’s Java island and to visit a military academy before heading to Singapore, where he will speak at Asia’s top defense conference, the annual Shangri-La Dialogue.