Indonesia and France share ‘strategic intimacy’, French minister says after US$8 billion fighter jet deal
- Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto and French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu met in Jakarta as Indonesia prepares to take over Asean presidency
- Indonesia ordered 42 of France’s Rafale fighter jets in an US$8.1 billion deal; discussing the purchase of two French Scorpene-class attack submarines
France’s defence minister met his Indonesian counterpart in Jakarta on Friday, lauding the close ties between the two countries following an US$8 billion fighter jet deal signed earlier this year.
“There is a powerful strategic intimacy that is being born with Indonesia and France,” French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.
Indonesia placed an order for 42 of France’s Rafale fighter jets in an US$8.1 billion deal agreed to in February. The two countries are also in talks over the purchase of two French Scorpene-class attack submarines.
Lecornu met his counterpart Prabowo Subianto as Indonesia prepares to take over the rotating presidency of regional block the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
France has been accepted as an observer state in ADMM-Plus, Asean’s defence platform, Lecornu tweeted Saturday, joining countries including the United States and China.