Jakarta broadens military and energy ties as President Prabowo steps up global outreach
Indonesia is widening its international partnerships at a pivotal moment, with President Prabowo Subianto securing new defense and energy commitments from France just days after high-level agreements with the United States and Russia. The latest move underlines Jakarta’s strategy of expanding cooperation with major powers while insisting it remains non-aligned.
France Becomes Indonesia’s Latest Strategic Defense Partner
After meeting French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, President Prabowo Subianto agreed to strengthen strategic cooperation with France, including defense procurement and closer defense industry collaboration. Jakarta said the talks also covered energy transition and the development of new and renewable energy, showing that the relationship goes beyond arms purchases alone.
Prabowo’s Paris Visit Followed Directly After Moscow Talks
The Paris meeting came immediately after Prabowo’s trip to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss strengthening strategic cooperation in energy, mineral resources, and national industrial development. Indonesian officials have framed the president’s recent overseas diplomacy as part of a broader effort to secure oil and strengthen economic resilience as global energy prices remain under pressure from Middle East tensions.
Jakarta Is Also Upgrading Military Ties With Washington
At the same time, Indonesia has elevated defense ties with the United States through a new Major Defense Cooperation Partnership announced in Washington on April 13. That framework covers military modernization, training, and operational cooperation, although Indonesia has stressed that any deeper defense engagement, including discussions over possible US military overflight access, will still be reviewed carefully under national procedures and sovereignty rules.
France Already Plays A Big Role In Indonesia’s Military Modernization
France is already one of Indonesia’s most important defense suppliers. Under Prabowo’s leadership, Jakarta signed a US$8.1 billion deal in 2022 for 42 Rafale fighter jets, and current bilateral defense cooperation has also been described by Indonesian and French sources as involving joint production, technology transfer, and wider modernization efforts. That makes the latest Paris agreement less a sudden shift and more an expansion of an already important defense relationship.
Indonesia Is Balancing Global Powers Without Abandoning Non-Alignment
Taken together, the deals with France, the United States, and Russia show how Indonesia is trying to strengthen defense capacity, secure energy supplies, and expand room for maneuver without formally aligning itself with any one bloc. For Jakarta, this balancing act is especially significant because of Indonesia’s strategic location along the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes and a critical artery for regional trade and security.
Indonesia’s latest diplomacy shows that Prabowo is pursuing a multi-directional strategy to strengthen the country’s defense and energy position in a more volatile world. For Indonesians, this could mean faster military modernization and broader strategic options, but also greater scrutiny over how Jakarta balances its relationships with rival powers. For Singaporeans and Indonesians alike, the development highlights how Southeast Asia’s largest economies are becoming increasingly central to the contest over security, trade, and energy flows in the Indo-Pacific.
Sources: CNA (2026) , Le Monde FR (2026)
Keywords: Indonesia France Defense, Prabowo Macron Meeting, Indonesia US Defense Partnership, Indonesia Russia Energy Deal, Defense Diplomacy Indonesia, Prabowo Foreign Visits
