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French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot’s visit to Jakarta, his
second stop in his four-day Asia tour after Singapore, comes
amid ongoing trade tensions between the European Union and
Beijing.
He told reporters on Wednesday that the Indo-Pacific Port
Security Project "is close to my heart,” promising France's
support.
Neither he nor his Indonesian counterpart Sugiono shared what
the project will entail.
Earlier this month, during a discussion of the project at the
Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence, Indonesia's naval
chief of staff, Admiral Muhammad Ali, said it would address
various maritime security challenges, including piracy,
terrorism, and illegal activities at sea, and would likely
involve collaboration among countries in the Indo-Pacific.
Sugiono, who like many Indonesians uses a single name, said the
“maritime collaboration is important to realize a stable,
peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
Barrot said the project will support Indonesia as the world's
largest archipelago nation with more than 17,000 islands, with a
focus on two Indonesian ports in Jakarta and Surabaya cities “in
their sustainability and security.”
The two diplomats, who signed the project's agreement at the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations headquarters in the
Indonesian capital, said they also discussed strengthening their
strategic partnerships and enhancing cooperation in various
fields.
Military cooperation between France and Indonesia has grown in
recent years.
French air force planes made a stopover in July In Jakarta as
part of a visit to Southeast Asia that was meant to display
France’s commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Last year, Indonesia purchased 42 Rafale and Dassault Aviation
fighter jets and is expected to receive the first Rafale jets
under the contract in 2026. It also announced the purchase of
two French Scorpene Evolved submarines and 13 Thales Ground
Control Interception radars. Five of the radar systems are
expected to be installed in the country’s future capital,
Nusantara, on Borneo island.
Barrot’s visit is also expected to help lay the groundwork for a
meeting between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and French
President Emmanuel Macron who is expected to visit the Southeast
Asian country in May.
The French diplomatic set to travel to Beijing and economic
powerhouse Shanghai on Thursday and Friday.
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