Grandstand. In 2018, Emmanuel Macron exhibited, in Sydney, his vision of the French Indo-Pacific axis. He recalled that the communities located in the Indian and Pacific Oceans contribute to the strength of French anchoring in this region where the growth of the world and a substantial part of its geopolitical balances will be played out.
After two centuries centered on terrestrial spaces and hydrocarbon resources, the 21stand century will be maritime and mineral. While the President of the Republic wanted to instil a new relationship with the oceans at the One Ocean Summit, it is also an opportunity to initiate a dynamic around the island territories of the Indo-Pacific region.
Already in 1966, in Nouméa, General de Gaulle underlined their strategic nature: “You have a French role to play in this part of the world, you are a piece of France, you are southern France. » Five decades later, this ambition is still valid. These territories offer France a base to ensure its sovereignty in remote areas of France and an essential observation post in areas where friction between States could degenerate into international conflicts.
This is particularly the case of the Oceanian territories which are directly influenced by the security situation in East and South-East Asia. The French presence legitimizes the commitment to the search for fair balances during geopolitical oppositions. It allows him to maintain a discourse favorable to multilateralism and respect for international law with local powers who might be tempted by a belligerent settlement of their diplomatic disputes.
Regional stability
This is also the case of the territories of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, whose significant energy resources in oil and gas generate strong struggles for influence. This is why France must invest during the next five-year period to strengthen its capacity for action in the region. Only a lasting and dissuasive military presence protects the sovereignty of its communities and allows it to perpetuate its commitment to regional stability.
It is the overseas territories – with the overwhelming majority of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) located in the overseas communities – which make France the second largest maritime power in the world behind the United States. These immense spaces conceal a plethora of riches. This is particularly the case in Oceania. As a fierce rare metal war looms, mastering these strategic resources is essential. Their exploitation – non-existent today – would grant France precious autonomy.
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