Macron's visit to Indonesia: what for?

French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to make a state visit to Indonesia in May 2025, the first since the declaration of a strategic partnership between the two countries in 2011.

Several agendas will be discussed with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, which can be summarized as follows:

1. Economic and Trade Relations: Accelerating the completion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EUCEPA) to increase trade and investment between Indonesia and the European Union.
2. Industrial and Energy Investment: Discussing increasing French investment in the industrial and energy sectors, including the Eramet Group project in North Maluku related to the development of nickel-based electric vehicle batteries.
3. Support for Indonesia's accession to the OECD: Obtaining French support in Indonesia's accession process to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which is expected to improve Indonesia's economic governance and industrial competitiveness.
4. Application of EUDR Regulations: Discussing the implementation of the European Union Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR) and ensuring that the regulation does not become a trade barrier for Indonesian products.

Macron's historical visit to Indonesia is expected to open a new chapter in the French-Indonesian partnership in facing current global challenges. But, unfortunately, it only revolves around the economy, defense and energy transition. More fundamental issues, such as human rights, are simply ignored. 

It is regrettable that Macron, who loudly condemns the “new imperialisms” in the Pacific, turns a blind eye to Indonesia’s military occupation of West Papua. Worse still, despite being subject to strict arms export regulations under the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy and international conventions such as the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), France has been a major arms supplier to the Indonesian military. In 2022 alone, Dassault Aviation has signed a contract with Jakarta for 42 Rafale multirole fighter jets worth more than 7 billion euros!

One cannot question these arms sales without feeling disgusted: According to the World Bank, 59% of Indonesia's population, or 165 million Indonesians, live in poverty. Twenty-five million of them suffer from lack of education, malnutrition, and hunger.

Indonesia's occupation of West Papua since 1963 has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Papuans dying, and tens of thousands more being displaced. To the great misfortune of the West Papuans, the French weapons purchased by Jakarta have been and will most likely be used against them: 

https://www.waronwestpapua.org/france

In the face of this scandal, we can legitimately ask: "How can France, as a global champion of human rights, indirectly perpetuate crimes against humanity in certain regions of the world?"

Shouldn't France, with its strong diplomatic network and international commitments, instead use its assets to promote peace and human dignity throughout the world, including in Indonesia, particularly in its Papuan provinces?