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French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian with his colleague Retno Marsudi from Indonesia
Photo: INDONESIAN MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIR / HANDOUT / EPA
After the disappointment about the broken submarine business with Australia, France will be in closer contact with Indonesia in the future.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Indonesian colleague Retno Marsudi signed an “Action Plan for a Strengthened Partnership” in Jakarta.
This includes in particular defense and a maritime dialogue, said Le Drian.
Indonesia has been negotiating with France for several months to buy 36 Rafale aircraft and is also interested in submarines and other armaments.
Since announcing a new alliance called Aukus between the US, Australia and the UK, France has been keen to strengthen its ties with Japan, India and other states in the Indo-Pacific region.
The new agreement with Indonesia also affects cooperation between the two countries on health, energy and the fight against climate change.
The USA, Great Britain and Australia had announced an Indo-Pacific alliance in mid-September, which also includes the construction of nuclear submarines for Australia.
The fact that Australia then canceled an order for twelve diesel-powered French submarines caused outraged reactions in Paris.
as / AFP