the French and Indonesian Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense meeting in Paris

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The Indonesian ministers, Retno Marsudi and Prabowo Subianto, were received with great fanfare by Sébastien Lecornu and Catherine Colonna this Friday fromin the gardens of the Ministry of Defense with military honours. Bilateral cooperation in defense and security, economic relations and the international situation, in particular the war in Ukraine, will be at the heart of the discussions, according to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For France, which is seeking to position itself in the region against China, Indonesia has everything to please since it is the largest country in Southeast Asia with annual growth of more than 5%, political stability and of course a geographical position of choice. Indonesia is also at the crossroads between India and China, at the crossroads of the Indian and Pacific oceans.

At the Ministry of Defence, it is explained that this Friday’s meeting is a stepping stone, first of all to follow the current arms contracts which relate to the purchase of 42 Rafale combat aircraft by Indonesia for 8 billion dollars. But this meeting also aims to expand cooperation between the two countries.

Strengthen maritime and air safety

“ Our relationship began with equipment and weapons, but we want to intensify it, towards two objectives, explains the Minister of Defense, Sébastien Lecornu. First common training, to strengthen air safety and maritime safety, but also the training of non-commissioned officers, particularly in equipment. »

For its part, Indonesia, subject to the influence of China, is trying at the same time to diversify its alliances, and this involves Westerners. While the ministers were meeting in Paris, Jakarta was conducting large-scale military exercises off the coast with twelve other countries, including France and the United States.Australia.

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(and with AFP)