Indonesia and France Strengthen Strategic Defense Partnership Through Joint Production and Technology Transfer
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: President Prabowo Subianto has affirmed that France remains one of Indonesia’s principal partners in the modernization of its primary weapons systems (alutsista), as the two nations continue to strengthen bilateral defense ties through joint initiatives and technology-sharing agreements.
Speaking during a joint press statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, President Prabowo emphasized the significance of Indonesia-France defense cooperation in advancing the country’s defense capabilities and supporting the development of a robust domestic defense industry.
“We have an Indonesia–France defense cooperation agreement. France is one of Indonesia’s main partners in modernizing defense equipment, including in the development of the defense industry through joint production and technology transfer,” President Prabowo stated on Wednesday.
He further noted the positive results of the 11th Indonesia–France Defense Dialogue (IFDD), held in Jakarta from April 29–30, 2025. The dialogue underscored mutual commitments to enhancing cooperation in areas such as defense production, capability development, and human resources.
President Prabowo also highlighted Indonesia’s participation in France-led multilateral joint military exercises, particularly the La Perouse 2025 exercise conducted from January 16–24. The naval exercise spanned strategic maritime routes, including the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Malacca Strait, Sunda Strait, and Lombok Strait, and was attended by nine countries from the Indo-Pacific region, including Indonesia, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, and Singapore.
Indonesia-France defense relations have gained considerable momentum in recent years, particularly during Prabowo’s tenure as Minister of Defense from 2019 to 2024. Notable achievements include Indonesia’s procurement of 42 Rafale fighter jets from French aerospace firm Dassault Aviation, as well as the purchase of two Scorpene submarines from Naval Group and a GCI radar system from Thales.
During President Macron’s official visit to Indonesia, both leaders witnessed the signing of two significant defense cooperation documents. These included a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the protection of classified information and a letter of intent (LoI) on strategic defense cooperation between the two nations. The documents were signed by Indonesia’s Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
President Prabowo reiterated both countries’ commitment to further strengthening defense ties, particularly through enhanced collaboration in human resource development and continued strategic engagement.
The growing defense partnership between Indonesia and France reflects a shared vision for regional stability, technological advancement, and long-term security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
