On the next leg of a three-country visit promoting France as a controlling energy between the US and China, French President Emmanuel Macron met with his Indian rival on Wednesday, seeking to strengthen trade and defense ties with Southeast Asia’s largest business. After being greeted by a guard of honor, a gun welcome, and thousands of young Indonesians waving French colors, Macron and Prabowo Subianto met at the presidential palace in Jakarta, and they both praised their countries ‘ close relationship. Macron told Prabowo that” we are strengthening our relationship in all the fields, including defense and security, economy and society. ” I believe this is the best manner to… conduct the business in difficult times. But I ask you a lot for your support, friendship, and particular attachment to France.” Merci beaucoup, monsieur,” the French president will then meet investors, students, and attend a state dinner. Before wrapping up his six-day journey in Singapore, he will go to Yogyakarta on Indonesia’s Java island to see the nation’s largest Buddhist temple on Thursday. After welcoming Macron, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, the presidency’s representative, stated that the nations do” improve their strategic relationship in the military business” by signing a letter of intent on defense products. Macron is attempting to convert his” next way” position into contracts for European companies, particularly those in defence, energy, and crucial metals, in the face of Donald Trump‘s tariffs and the US economic conflict with China. At a UN conference in June, he has indicated that he will even try to persuade the world’s most populous nation to support a two-state alternative to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. One of Macron’s experts stated to reporters before the journey that “recognising Israel is an issue.” We fully comprehend the sensibilities of the Muslim communities in the area with regard to the position in Gaza, the assistant continued. In light of his efforts to end the Ukraine battle, Macron wants to show that he is “particularly committed” to “achieving peace in the Middle East” while showing no signs of having two opinions on the subject.
Energy for peace
Macron described France as a “power of harmony and balance” who is” committed to an international order that is “based on law” in Vietnam on Tuesday. This sent a strong message to both Washington and Beijing, which has become more confrontational with its territorial claims in the South China Sea, given Trump’s risks of broad-ranging taxes. Macron warned that industry policy was “holding up investment and the market” and was” continually creating doubt” with it. His remarks came as Indonesia, a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, stated at the summit of the group that efforts to extend business networks may be made in response to Trump’s tariffs. So Macron’s administration is attempting to find financial success in the East Asian island nation of 280 million people. Paulo Castellari, the new chief executive of European mining company Eramet, was a member of a French committee attempting to persuade Jakarta to increase output at the largest copper me in eastern Indonesia. Paris also intends to increase arms-to-arm cooperation with Indonesia’s previous defense minister and common Prabowo. While Jakarta has recently purchased fighter planes from Russia, it has recently acquired Rafales from European firm Dassault Aviation, whose CEO Eric Trappier may visit the French group.