23-7-2023 (JAKARTA) Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi visited French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, France, on Friday (July 21) for a courtesy call.
In a statement received on Saturday, it was revealed that the meeting primarily focused on Indonesia’s determination to enhance its strategic partnership with France based on the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit.
The discussions covered various aspects of defense cooperation, including the purchase of defense armaments and technology transfer, joint development, and production of defense equipment.
Minister Subianto emphasized that one of Indonesia’s defense policy principles for the 2020-2024 period is to strengthen international cooperation in the defense sector, extending to countries in the South Pacific region.
“The goal is to develop and bolster international defense cooperation, and we are keen to collaborate with nations in the South Pacific,” he added.
Prior to their meeting with President Macron, Subianto and Marsudi participated in a 2+2 meeting alongside their French counterparts, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
Following the productive 2+2 meeting, Subianto praised the relationship between Indonesia and France, particularly in the defense field, stating it to be the strongest in decades.
He further conveyed President Joko Widodo’s keen interest in expanding defense cooperation with France, including engaging in technology transfer programs and purchasing defense equipment.
During the discussions, Minister Subianto sought to explore opportunities for intensified military cooperation, focusing on areas such as education, soldier exchanges, and joint training.
“We are highly satisfied with this meeting and envision strong strategic cooperation in the future,” Subianto remarked.
