Indonesia’s defense relationship with the European Union (EU) has developed significantly in recent times. Global geopolitical dynamics, marked by a shift of power towards a multipolar order, have encouraged each side to strengthen their strategic partnership within the defense and security sector.
Indonesia, because the world’s largest archipelagic country with a strategic position within the Indo-Pacific region, is a key partner of the EU, which is attempting to increase its influence and involvement in Southeast Asia.
This article will review the most recent developments in Indonesia’s defense cooperation with the EU, covering bilateral dynamics with member states, joint military exercise programs and its link to the broader economic partnership.
Dynamics of bilateral cooperation with EU Member States
One of the major pillars of Indonesia’s defense cooperation with the EU is bilateral relations with its member states. Within this framework, France has emerged as a number one partner and relations have reached the perfect phase within the history of each countries.
This was highlighted in the course of the bilateral meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and French President Emmanuel Macron on the Elysée Palace in Paris in May 2026, during which they discussed strengthening cooperation in various priority sectors, including defense.
A real testament to the strong defense relationship between Indonesia and France was the arrival of the primary Rafale fighter in Indonesia. President Macron particularly highlighted this as concrete evidence of the growing strategic relationship between the 2 countries.
This cooperation just isn’t limited to the acquisition of defense equipment, but additionally includes the transfer of military technology and know-how. The meeting also discussed the implementation of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EU-CEPA), demonstrating the link between defense cooperation and the broader economic agenda.
In addition to France, Poland has also shown increased involvement in defense cooperation with Indonesia.
During a gathering on the sidelines of the EU-Indo-Pacific Forum in Brussels in November 2025, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation within the defense and economic sectors, with particular emphasis on energy security, digital transformation and green technologies.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Indonesia, Barbara Szymanowska, assessed the talks as specific and comprehensive, showing the complementary strengths of each countries and creating real opportunities for partnership.
Joint military exercise program and the Pegasus 2026 mission
One of the most recent points of Indonesia’s defense cooperation with the EU is the planned joint military exercises of French and Indonesian forces under the Pegasus 2026 Mission. President Macron announced this plan in a joint speech with President Prabowo in Paris, and the exercises are scheduled for September 2026.
The Pegasus mission itself is an operation to deploy air forces within the Indo-Pacific region, which France has been conducting since 2018. The primary goal of this mission is to display France’s ability to intervene quickly and effectively within the event of a geopolitical crisis.
In the Pegasus 2026 mission, the French Air Force will conduct joint exercises with Indonesia, continuing a series of previous visits and exercises. The French Air Force has already visited Indonesia in 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024, all the time bringing with it its flagship Rafale fighters.
Indonesia’s participation within the Pegasus Mission is of strategic importance. From a technical perspective, these exercises provide the Indonesian military with the chance to learn first-hand how French defense equipment is utilized by its manufacturer, in addition to learn concerning the coordination and deployment strategy of troops in large-scale military operations.
It clearly states that this information transfer is crucial given Indonesia’s recent purchase and deployment of French-made defense equipment.
From a political perspective, these international military exercises even have a strategic dimension. Indonesia’s involvement in French-initiated exercises within the Indo-Pacific reflects Indonesia’s increasingly integrated position in a regional security network that features European actors.
This is inextricably linked to President Prabowo’s vision, which predicts that in the longer term, in a multipolar world, French and European power will turn into increasingly stronger.
Strategic Partnership Framework and Security Dialogue
Indonesia’s defense cooperation with the EU takes place inside the framework of a broader strategic partnership. In July 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that the EU was committed to strengthening its strategic partnership with Indonesia in three key areas: trade, security and connectivity.
In the geopolitical and security sphere, the EU initiated the upgrade of bilateral relations with Indonesia to a full strategic partnership, as a type of mutually helpful long-term engagement and strengthening the EU’s engagement within the ASEAN region.
The security policy dialogue can also be a key pillar of this cooperation framework. In September 2024, Indonesia hosted the eighth Republic of Indonesia-EU Security Policy Dialogue in Semarang, Central Java. The meeting discussed a variety of issues starting from bilateral, regional and multilateral security cooperation, with a shared vision of strengthening the partnership between Indonesia and the EU.
The two sides exchanged views on security trends, security cooperation and appropriate defense initiatives within the face of the evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic situation in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The dialogue covered a big selection of areas, including counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, peacekeeping operations, maritime security, transnational organized crime and disaster management. The two sides also agreed to advertise dialogue on these issues through existing multilateral forums.
They also stressed the importance of conducting regular security policy dialogues as considered one of the pillars of strengthening the Indonesia-EU partnership to create a strategic environment conducive to a rules-based international order, peace and stability.
Link between IEU-CEPA and the Economic Agenda
Indonesia’s defense cooperation with the European Union can’t be separated from the broader context of its economic partnership, especially through IEU-CEPA. This agreement, which was reached politically in July 2025 after ten years of negotiations, symbolizes a long-term partnership built on trust and shared values.
President Prabowo particularly expressed his appreciation for President Macron’s support in accelerating the event of IEU-CEPA, which was discussed within the framework of the defense cooperation program on the bilateral meeting in Paris.
The link between defense cooperation and economic cooperation can also be visible within the optimistic statements of Polish officials that the implementation of IEU-CEPA will support bilateral trade in various areas, including those related to defense and security technologies.
IEU-CEPA is predicted to open recent markets and convey significant opportunities in the economic, agricultural, automotive and repair sectors, which in turn can support strengthening Indonesia’s defense capabilities through technology transfer and investments in strategic industrial sectors.
Challenges and prospects for the longer term
Despite positive developments, Indonesia’s defense cooperation with the European Union also faces several challenges. One of the challenges is to keep up a balanced position for Indonesia within the face of great power competition within the Indo-Pacific region.
However, Indonesia still must adopt a balancing technique to avoid being perceived as a part of the selfish actions of a specific Western country. In addition, Indonesia can also be conducting joint exercises with China as a counterweight, according to the principles of an independent and lively foreign policy.
The next challenge is to make sure that this defense cooperation brings tangible, and not only symbolic, advantages to Indonesia’s defense capabilities. The transfer of data and technology, increased interoperability and the strengthening of the national defense industry have to be the major focus of the varied cooperation initiatives which were and shall be implemented.
The prospects for defense cooperation between Indonesia and the European Union appear to proceed to extend in the longer term, especially given Europe’s growing involvement within the Indo-Pacific region.
Plans for joint military exercises under the Pegasus 2026 Mission, increased dialogue on security policy and strengthening of the complete strategic partnership display the commitment of each side to deepen cooperation within the defense and security sectors.
With a cautious and balanced approach, this cooperation is predicted to be a crucial instrument for Indonesia to strengthen its defense capabilities, while maintaining stability and peace within the dynamic Indo-Pacific region.
