President Prabowo’s State Visit to France Signals Deepening of Bilateral Ties

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s arrival in Paris on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, marked the beginning of a long-anticipated state visit aimed at strengthening strategic relations between the two nations.

Touching down at Orly Airport around 10:00 a.m. local time, the Indonesian leader was welcomed by French Minister of Labor and Solidarity Jean-Pierre Farandou, an honor guard, and hundreds of Indonesian citizens who later greeted him at his hotel.

According to the Cabinet Secretariat’s official statement, the visit had been scheduled since last year but underwent several reschedulings before finally taking place this week.

“This arrival marks the start of President Prabowo’s state visit to France, an invitation that has been on the agenda for some time,” Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya explained, as quoted by Antara.

Teddy emphasized that Indonesia currently maintains several “super-strategic” partnerships with France, and the visit is expected to further consolidate Indonesia’s position in Europe.

He noted that the two countries play complementary roles in global relations: Indonesia serves as a gateway for Europe to Asia, while France acts as a key entry point for Southeast Asia into Europe.

Before commencing the official program, President Prabowo is scheduled to perform Eid al-Adha prayers and meet with Indonesian citizens at the Indonesian Embassy’s residence in Paris.

Deputy Minister of State Secretariat Juri Ardiantoro earlier confirmed that the President departed Jakarta on Monday night, May 25, for the visit. He added that President Prabowo would remain in France through Wednesday, May 27, with Eid al-Adha observances adjusted to local conditions.

The state visit underscores Indonesia’s commitment to reinforcing its diplomatic and economic presence in Europe while highlighting France’s role as a strategic partner in advancing cooperation across multiple sectors. ***