France and Indonesia have signed a preliminary defence pact that could lead to new orders of French military equipment including Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene submarines, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday.

Amid deepening defense ties, Jakarta seems set to consolidate its status as the top customer of French arms in Southeast Asia.

Macron arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday after concluding a state visit to Vietnam. His itinerary includes stops at the Magelang Military Academy, the historic Borobudur Temple, and a French language lab utilized by the Indonesian armed forces.