Sugiono: Prabowo’s Visit to France Realizes Macron’s Postponed Invitation

RRI.CO.ID, New York - The Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono, emphasized that President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to France this week, which coincides with Eid al-Adha, was carried out to fulfill an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron that had previously been postponed.

“This was an invitation from President Macron that had actually been postponed. At that time, if I’m not mistaken, it was expected to take place in April. However, the timing did not match at that moment,” Sugiono said in a video statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

Sugiono explained that the invitation to revisit France was conveyed by President Macron when he received President Prabowo during his visit to Paris last April.

“President Macron once again extended the invitation and proposed the current date. Since the invitation had already been made twice, this is the second time he invited him, and the President fulfilled the invitation,” he said.

According to him, during the meeting President Macron proposed that the state visit be rescheduled for late May, which was eventually realized by President Prabowo this week.

Previously, during a press conference in Jakarta on April 22, 2026, Foreign Minister Sugiono revealed that President Prabowo would return to France for a state visit as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. President Prabowo had earlier visited Paris on April 14 to meet President Macron in a closed-door meeting.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral ties as well as enhancing cooperation in various strategic sectors. One of the areas discussed was the defense industry sector, considering that Indonesia purchases major defense equipment systems (alutsista) from France.