France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands with Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto during their meeting at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on May 28, 2025. (Photo by Ludovic Marin/AFP)
JAKARTA — France and Indonesia called Wednesday for progress to be made on "mutual recognition" between Israel and the Palestinians at a key meeting scheduled for next month, as Emmanuel Macron visited Jakarta, bringing the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation into his diplomatic efforts.
It came as Paris and Jakarta signed a series of cooperation agreements, with Macron seeking to deepen trade and defence ties with Southeast Asia's largest economy on a three-country tour promoting France as a balancing power between the United States and China.
Speaking next to his French counterpart, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made the rare pledge of recognising Israel if it allowed for a Palestinian state. Indonesia has no formal ties with Israel and support for the Palestinian cause runs high there.
"Indonesia sees that the two-state solution and the freedom of Palestine is the only way to achieve the true peace," Prabowo told a news conference.
"We must acknowledge and guarantee Israel's rights as a sovereign country that must be paid attention to and guaranteed safety. Indonesia has stated that once Israel recognizes Palestine, Indonesia is ready to recognize Israel and open the diplomatic relationship."
Macron issued a joint statement with Prabowo that condemned Israeli plans to take control of Gaza and any moves to "forcibly remove the Palestinian population from their homeland."
But they also called for restoring the political prospect of the two-state solution at a conference Paris will co-chair with Saudi Arabia at the U.N. headquarters in New York next month and expressed hope for a "credible roadmap."
They said the event "should allow for an irreversible path towards the realization of a Palestinian State, [and] mutual recognition between Israel and Palestine."
Macron earlier held talks with Prabowo after being greeted by a guard of honor, gun salute and thousands of young Indonesians waving French flags.
"Our partnership on all the fields, defense and security, economy, culture is already strong, but we are strengthening it," Macron told Prabowo. "Thank you very much for your support, our friendship and your very special attachment to France."
Prabowo replied: "Merci beaucoup, monsieur!"
JAKARTA — France and Indonesia called Wednesday for progress to be made on "mutual recognition" between Israel and the Palestinians at a key meeting scheduled for next month, as Emmanuel Macron visited Jakarta, bringing the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation into his diplomatic efforts.
It came as Paris and Jakarta signed a series of cooperation agreements, with Macron seeking to deepen trade and defence ties with Southeast Asia's largest economy on a three-country tour promoting France as a balancing power between the United States and China.
Speaking next to his French counterpart, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made the rare pledge of recognising Israel if it allowed for a Palestinian state. Indonesia has no formal ties with Israel and support for the Palestinian cause runs...