French President Emmanuel Macron met with his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta on Wednesday as part of his Southeast Asian tour aimed at strengthening France's role as a balancing power between the United States and China.

Macron's Indonesia visit, part of a three-country sweep through the region, included a formal ceremony at the presidential palace marked by a gun salute and thousands of students waving French flags in a display of warm bilateral relations.

"Our partnership on all the fields, defence and security, economy, culture is already strong, but we are strengthening it," Macron said, standing alongside Prabowo. "I think this is the best way to handle the business in challenging times."

"So thank you very much for your support, our friendship and your very special attachment to France." Prabowo responded with a simple "Merci beaucoup, monsieur!"

Macron is expected to meet with business leaders and students before attending a state dinner later in the day. On Thursday, he will travel to Yogyakarta to visit Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple, ahead of his final stop in Singapore.

France, Indonesia sign defense cooperation letter

The France-Indonesia relations dynamic was highlighted by the signing of a letter of intent to deepen defense cooperation, according to the Indonesian presidency. Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin confirmed the agreement, signaling Jakarta’s continued shift toward Western partners in the military sector.

While Indonesia previously purchased fighter jets from Russia, it has recently turned to France, acquiring Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation, whose CEO Eric Trappier is part of Macron’s delegation.

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Macron’s trip aims to reinforce France’s position as a "power of peace and balance," particularly amid intensifying geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.

In Vietnam, the first leg of his tour, Macron emphasized that France stands for an international order based on the rule of law, a subtle message to both Beijing and Washington amid escalating rhetoric and policy shifts.

Strategic focus on energy, arms, and critical minerals

The French delegation is also eyeing new commercial opportunities in Indonesia, especially in the areas of arms sales, energy partnerships, and critical minerals. The nickel-rich Southeast Asian archipelago is a key global supplier, and France is pushing to secure a stake in future production.

Paulo Castellari, the new CEO of French mining group Eramet, joined the trip in hopes of persuading Jakarta to scale up operations at what is believed to be the world’s largest nickel mine in eastern Indonesia.

As part of this wider push, France hopes to position itself as a reliable partner for Indonesia’s growing defense sector. The defense cooperation Indonesia-France agreement is seen as a building block for longer-term strategic engagement, complementing Paris’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy.

Macron to raise Gaza, peace talks at UN

Beyond trade and defense, Macron’s visit also serves as a diplomatic overture on global issues, including "Israel's" genocide in Gaza. An advisor to the French president indicated Macron plans to seek support from the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation for a two-state solution, which France will advocate at an upcoming United Nations conference in June.

"Naturally, the question of recognising Israel is an issue," the adviser said, noting France’s awareness of Muslim sensitivities regarding Gaza. "We understand perfectly well the sensitivities of the Muslim communities in the region."

Macron is looking to reinforce the idea that France does not apply double standards, whether in the West Asia or in Ukraine, asserting his commitment to equitable diplomacy and lasting peace solutions.

Southeast Asia diplomacy amid US-China rivalry

Throughout his tour, Macron has presented France as a middle path amid the strategic rivalry between the US and China. His comments in Vietnam criticized erratic trade policies, an implicit swipe at the United States under Donald Trump, warning that "constantly creating uncertainty" was harming economic growth and investor confidence.

As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Indonesia is a member, seeks to diversify trade networks in response to geopolitical risks, Macron’s outreach reflects France’s effort to anchor itself more firmly in Southeast Asia diplomacy. His Indonesia trip, involving direct appeals to top political and business leaders, is emblematic of this approach, blending economic pragmatism with strategic ambition.