French President Emmanuel Macron (left) visited Indonesia on May 28, holding a joint press conference with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta. Despite questions raised about the performance of the Rafale fighter jets after India's usage in combat saw them shot down by Pakistan's Chinese-made J-10 jets during the Kashmir conflict in April, Macron emphasized that Indonesia will continue to order Rafale jets.

“I am pleased that today's memorandum of understanding will open new prospects for new orders of Rafale fighter jets, Scorpene-class submarines, and light frigates,” Macron stated. Widodo noted that France is one of Indonesia's key partners in updating military supplies, joint production, and acquiring technology transfer.

Macron's Southeast Asia trip follows his arrival in Indonesia from Vietnam, with plans to fly to Singapore on Thursday. Regarding the Rafale fighter jet deliveries, Indonesian Air Force Chief Mohamad Tonny Harjono indicated that the first batch of six jets is expected to be delivered in early 2026.

In addition to military agreements, the two leaders also discussed the escalating Gaza crisis in the Middle East, where Widodo expressed Indonesia's readiness to recognize Israel once it acknowledges the statehood of Palestine. Moreover, France and Indonesia signed many other agreements worth over $11 billion.