Jakarta, May 29, 2025 – The Europe Today: French President Emmanuel Macron has extended a personal invitation to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to attend the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris on July 14 as an honorary guest, marking a new milestone in the deepening strategic partnership between Indonesia and France.
President Prabowo made the announcement during a joint press conference with President Macron at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday. Bastille Day, commemorated annually on July 14, is France’s national day celebrating the storming of the Bastille in 1789, a turning point in the French Revolution that led to the establishment of the modern French Republic.
“I have received a personal invitation from him (President Macron) to attend as an honorary guest France’s national day—Bastille Day. It is a celebration that honors a historic moment tied to liberty and the founding of the French Republic,” President Prabowo said.
President Macron also invited Indonesia to send a contingent to participate in the Bastille Day military parade, which is a key highlight of the national celebration.
Expressing appreciation for the gesture, President Prabowo said he was honored by the invitation. “I would like to thank President Macron. In the past, when I was in Paris, I watched the celebrations from the roadside. Now, I have the opportunity to stand on the podium with the president,” he remarked.
President Prabowo has made several visits to Paris over the years, including private trips to visit his son, Didiet Hediprasetyo, who once resided in the French capital.
During the press conference, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral ties, with President Prabowo highlighting the strong and growing relationship between Indonesia and France across various sectors.
President Macron echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the past decade has seen remarkable growth in Indonesia-France relations. He expressed confidence that his three-day official visit to Indonesia would usher in a new era of cooperation.
“This visit represents a new chapter in our strategic partnership. We aim to further strengthen cooperation in key areas such as economy, technology, and defense,” Macron stated.
On the defense front, the French President referenced the recent deployment of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) to Bali and West Nusa Tenggara in January as part of the Clemenceau 25 mission, underscoring France’s commitment to security collaboration in the Indo-Pacific.
President Macron also conveyed his intention to expand cultural exchanges between the two nations, noting that deeper people-to-people ties would further enrich the bilateral relationship.
The invitation to attend Bastille Day as an honorary guest reflects the elevated status of Indonesia in France’s foreign policy and is seen as a gesture of deep respect and friendship between the two republics.
