FRANCE AND SECURITY
IN THE INDO-PACIFIC

Foreword by the Minister for the Armed Forces
France pays particular attention to the Indo-Pacific region. Its stability is paramount for international security, as stated in the 2017 Defence
and National Security Strategic Review.
In the Indo-Pacific area, North Korea challenges the international community by conducting nuclear trials and ballistic missile tests, thereby
breaching the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
The military assertiveness of a growing number of established or emerging powers presents many challenges to multilateralism andincreases the instability and unpredictability we are confronted with.
Terrorism, which has severely struck Europe over the last few years, is reshaping and spreading to the Indo-Pacific. This worrying evolution
requires a joint mobilisation of the international community.
The maritime domain remains an area of tensions due to the challenging behaviour of some States with regards to United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea and the persistence of acts of piracy.
Finally, the effects of climate change and environmental degradations represent a major issue in the Indo-Pacific, and as far as in the
Antarctic, exacerbating security risks.
These major challenges can only be overcome through cooperation. Upholding stability in the Indo-Pacific, which is a source of overall prosperity thanks to its economic
dynamism, demographic growth and technological innovation, is essential. This has to be set within the framework of an international order based on dialogue andthe respect of multilaterally set rules.
As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a founding member of the European Union and NATO, France plays a specific role on the international
stage. With territories and population in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans, France is a nation of the Indo-Pacific region and holds a distinctive place in this part of theworld, from the African coastline to the seaboard of Americas. France permanently maintains sovereignty and presence forces in the region to defend its interests and tocontribute to the stability of the region alongside its partners, primarily India, Australia, the United States, Japan as well as Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Indonesia
and Vietnam.
With the 2019-2025 Military Programming Law, France started an exceptional military build-up to adapt its defence system to evolving security challenges. These
challenges also make supporting the capacity building of our partners essential.
The present document is a new edition of “France and security in the Asia-Pacific” published in 2016. It illustrates France’s policy on defence and security in the IndoPacific and demonstrates our country’s long-term unwavering commitment to developing strong linkages with the States of the region, in favour of our common
security.
Florence Parly

The security of the Indo-Pacific is a strategic challenge for France

he Indo-Pacific concentrates
60% of the world population and
one third of international trade.
Its stability is crucial: any crisis orconflict in this area is likely to affectadversely the interests of France as well as
Europe’s.

T

Terrorism remains a major and immediate concern.
Despite military progress in Levant, the threat isreshaping and spreading to new regions, thriving on
chaos, civil war, and the fragility of some States. France
is engaged on the frontline of the international fightagainst terrorism, alongside countries of the IndoPacific, in theatres of operations located in Africa andin the Levant.

The Indo-Pacific constitutes a maritime and landgeographical area, shaped by interactions aroundstrategic centres of gravity – India, China, Southeast
Asia, Australia. It comprises the Indian, Pacific andSouthern Oceans and forms a security continuum
spreading from the East African coastline to theWestern American seaboard.

Multilateralism is increasingly challenged, especiallyin the Indo-Pacific. Some major powers are choosing
postures that overtly favour power-based relations,generating anxiety and unpredictability worldwide.
The growing polarisation of the region threatens theupholding of the multilateral order that enabled theeconomic prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.

France is rooted in the southern part of the Indian
Ocean with the islands of Mayotte and La Réunion,
the Scattered Islands and the French Southern andAntarctic Territories. France is also anchored in the
Pacific Ocean with its territories in New Caledonia,
Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia and Clipperton
Island. Our armed forces stationed overseas and ourpermanent military basing allow France to fulfil the
security responsibilities of a resident power of the
Indo-Pacific.

The threat multiplier effect of climate change directly
concerns the Indo-Pacific. The most vulnerable
countries will see their economic growth prospects
highly reduced, whereas the most resilient ones,
owing to their size or their power, will gain ageostrategic advantage.

This region is not spared by the increasing tensions
on the international level.

2

France in the Indo-Pacific
Key figures
465 422 km² (including Terre Adélie) in the Indianand Pacific Oceans.
Almost 9 million km² of economic exclusive
zone (world’s second largest EEZ) in the Indo-Pacific.
1.6 million French citizens living in Frenchoverseas departments and territories.
At least 200,000 French Nationals living in the
Indo-Pacific States.
In 2018 :France exported up to 66.438 billion euros to
the Indo-Pacific (defence equipment not included),i.e. 34% of French exports outside European Union(14% overall).
France imported up to 95.930 billion euros fromthe Indo-Pacific (defence equipment not included),i.e. 40% of French imports outside European Union(17% overall).

FRANCE IN THE INDO-PACIFIC

ch importof Fren
s
17%
=
c
i
e
m
o
u
f
l
g
oods (eiferall vo
xcep
ac e ov
t ar-P of th
ma
o
me
d
nt)
In

France’s FDI Stocks
in the Indo-Pacific (2017)€108bnKAZAKHSTANUZBEKISTANTURKMENISTANMONGOLIAKYRGYZSTAN

of
all
er
ov
the

CHINA

AFGHANISTAN

I

nd
ovo
Pa
lu
m
cif
eo
ic
fg

oo

ds
(exc
ept

f Fr e narmament)JAPAN

NEPAL BHUTANPAKISTAN
=1
4%
o

NORTH
KOREA
SOUTH
KOREA

TAJIKISTANBANGLADESH

INDIA

MYANMARc h e x p o r ts

LAOS

VIET NAM

Clipperton
EEZ : 438,048 km2

PHILIPPINESTHAILANDCAMBODIASRI LANKA
MALAYSIA

Indo-Pacific’s FDI Stocks
in France (2016)€35bn

Mayotte - Réunion - Scattered Islands
EEZ : 1,026,037 km2
Glorious Islands
1,100,000 inhab.

MayotteSINGAPORE

BRUNEIINDONESIAPAPUANEW GUINEAEAST TIMORVANUATU

Tromelin

Juande Nova

Wallis & Futuna
EEZ : 263,422 km2
12,000 inhab.

SOLOMON ISLANDSMarquesas
Islands

FIDJI

Bassas da India
EuropaRéunion

AUSTRALIA

Scattered
Islands

French Sub-Antarctic
and Antarctic Territories
EEZ : 2,070,343 km2

Amsterdam &Saint-Paul Islands

SocietyIslands

New Caledonia
EEZ : 1,457,032 km2
282,000 inhab.

French Polynesia
EEZ : 4,852,122 km2
276,000 inhab.

TuàmotuAustralIslands

GambierIslands

NEW ZEALAND

Crozet Islands
Kerguelen Islands

French Nationals living in the Indo-Pacificfewer than
3,000
Terre
Adéliefrom 3,000
to 10,000

from 10,000
to 30,000

French Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

more than
30,000Main Security Challenges in the Indo-PacificThe 2017 French Strategic Review
emphasises the rapid and intense
evolution of the threats identified in
the 2013 White Paper: terrorism, theworrying return of rivalry and power
assertiveness, the weakening of the rule of law
and multilateralism as well as the increase of
unconventional challenges.
North Korea’s ballistic and nuclear programs do not
only threaten Northeast Asian stability but also theinternational order and the non-proliferation regime.
In the South China Sea, the large-scale land
reclamation activities and the militarisation ofcontested archipelagos have changed the status quo
and increased tensions. The potential consequencesof this crisis have a global impact consideringthat one third of the world trade transits throughthis strategic region. Such a case highlights how
multilateralism is questioned by assertive policies
which are threatening the stability of the whole
region.
Terrorism is another challenge. The end of Daech
does not mean the end of this global threat due toForeign Fighters returning home and the spreadof terrorism to new regions such as South Asia andSouth-East Asia.

Scientific and technological breakthroughs arebringing in new opportunities, but also new risks.
There is little doubt that accessibility to deep
underwater resources, the expansion of power
projection and, in parallel, of anti-access / area denial
capabilities, and the centrality of cyberspace andsatellite equipment, are going to exacerbate rivalries
between States in the Indo-Pacific.
Facing those challenges, France is developing
a network of strategic partnerships in the IndoPacific with countries such as India, Australia, Japan,
Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Indonesia andVietnam.
To deal with those risks and tensions, France supports
and wishes to contribute to the building of a regional
security architecture. In addition to being active inseveral multilateral dialogue platforms of the IndoPacific, France has especially taken steps to work
closer with the ADMM+, multinational cooperation
structure which gathers Defence Ministers of ASEAN
and its “Plus” Partner countries.
By participating in multilateral cooperation fora,
France brings to the Indo-Pacific its experience as apermanent member of the United Nations Security
Council, its operational know-how, particularly in themaritime security domain, and a major contribution
to the establishment of an area of peace and stability,
based on the full respect of international law.

4

A Commitment to Security at All Levels
France is playing a major role in the United Nations
Security Council and within the European Union toensure the full and effective implementation of sanctions
against the North Korean regime. This approach should
coerce the regime to cease its proliferating activities andto return to the negotiation table.
France supports the strict application of the United
Nations Convention on Law of the Sea. France, as afirst-rank maritime and naval power, regularly exercises
its right of maritime and air navigation wherever it isneeded, in particular in the Indo-Pacific region.
The French Armed Forces in the Indo-Pacific also play anactive role in operations against illegal trafficking(drugs, illegal fishing, etc.).
As for the struggle against climate change, France
has been instrumental to reach the Paris Agreement in2016. In the defense field, France has organised the firstinternational conference “The implications of Climate
Change for Defence” ahead of the COP21.

SECURITY ISSUES IN THE INDO-PACIFIC
Zones of disputes
Borders challenged by a neighbouring State
Closed border

RUSSIA

Nuclear weapons States
States that are not parties to the NPTwith nuclear weapons
Country that unilaterally withdrew fromthe NPTKAZAKHSTANMONGOLIAUZBEKISTAN

NORTH
KOREA

KYRGYZSTANTURKMENISTANTAJIKISTAN
1

AFGHANISTAN

Dokdo/

Kashmir
2

3

CHINA

Terrorist presence

South Kuril Islands /Northern Territories

Main areas of action of the French Forces
against illicit trafficking (drugs, fishing) and piracyJAPAN
1 - Kashmir under Pakistani control, claimed by India
2 - Kashmir under Indian control, claimed by Pakistan
3 - Kashmir under Chinese control, claimed by India

SOUTH Takeshima
KOREA

Arunachal Pradesh

NEPAL

PAKISTAN

Senkaku/DiaoyuBHUTANBANGLADESH
MYANMAR

INDIA

LAOS

VIET NAM

THAILANDCAMBODIASRI LANKA

Paracels
Spratleys

MALAYSIAPHILIPPINESPALAU

BRUNEIMICRONESIASINGAPORE

NAURU

INDONESIA
MayotteKIRIBATIPAPUANEW GUINEAEAST TIMOR

Glorious
Islands
Tromelin

Clipperton

MARSHALLISLANDSTUVALU

Wallis &FutunaVANUATU

FIDJI

SAMOA
NIUE

AUSTRALIA

Scattered
Islands

Amsterdam &Saint-Paul Islands
Crozet Islands
Kerguelen Islands

New
Caledonia

TONGA

SocietyIslands

TuàmotuAustral Islands

NEW ZEALAND

ia
es

RéunionMarquesas
Islands

FrenchPolyn

GambierIslands

A significant French military presenceF

rance’s military presence in the IndoPacific is adapted to its defence andsecurity needs. Permanently, 7,000
personnel are stationed throughout
the whole area: 4,100 in the Indian
Ocean and 2,900 in the Pacific Ocean.

These forces ensure the protection and safety ofFrench territories, as well as the surveillance of our
exclusive economic zones. They undertake HADR
operations, fight against trafficking, contribute to
the “Action of the State at Sea” and are involved ina number of defence cooperation activities in all
aspects.
In the north of the Indian Ocean, the French forces
station in the United Arab Emirates (FFEAU) and in
Djibouti (FFDj) permanently combat aircraft (6 Rafalein the UAE, 4 Mirage-2000 in Djibouti), 8 helicoptersand 1 tactical transport aircraft.
In the south of the Indian Ocean, the French Armed
Forces (FAZSOI) are divided between La Réunionand Mayotte islands and use 2 surveillance frigatesequipped with 1 helicopter each, 1 supply andsupport vessel, 2 patrol vessels (including 1 polar
patrol vessel) and 2 tactical transport aircraft.

1 helicopter each, 3 patrol vessels, 2 multi-mission
ships, 5 maritime surveillance aircraft, 4 tacticaltransport aircraft and 5 helicopters.
Furthermore, France maintains a close networkof 18 resident and non-resident defence attachés
accredited in 33 countries of Asia and Oceania. With
the help of deputy defence attachés, “armament”
attachés, permanent advisors in charge of military
cooperation and a liaison officer at USINDOPACOM,
they develop the bilateral defence cooperation in all
aspects.
France supports the regional centres dedicated tothe surveillance of maritime spaces and sea lanesof communication of the Indo-Pacific. Three French
officers actively contribute to these efforts within
the Information Fusion Center of Singapore (IFC),
the Regional Centre for the Fusion of Maritime
Information (CRFIM) located in Madagascar as well as
within the Information Fusion Center – Indian Ocean
Region located (IFC-IOR) in New Delhi.

To optimize its presence in this vast area, France relies on
joint regional commands:• COMSUP FAZSOI: Commander of the French Armed
Forces in the South of the Indian Ocean.
• COMSUP FANC: Commander of the French Armed
Forces in New Caledonia.
• COMSUP FAPF/ALPACI: Commander of the French
Armed Forces in French Polynesia and Commanderof the Pacific Ocean maritime zone.
• COMFOR FFEAU/ALINDIEN: Commander of theFrench Armed Forces in the United Arab Emirates
and Commander of the Indian Ocean maritime zone.
• COMFOR FFDJ: Commander of the French Armed
Forces in Djibouti.
For further details on the areas of responsibility, see map
page 7.

In the Pacific Ocean, the French Armed Forces in
New Caledonia (FANC) and in French Polynesia(FAPF) operate 2 surveillance frigates equipped with

6

FRENCH MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE INDO-PACIFICDefence dialogues in which France is involved♦ SPDMM - South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting♦ Shangri-La Dialogue♦ Raisina Dialogue♦ Tokyo Defense Forum♦ Indian Ocean Conference♦ Putrajaya Forum♦ SDD - Seoul Defense Dialogue♦ Ulaanbaatar Dialogue

KAZAKHSTANMONGOLIATURKMENISTANKIRGHIZSTANUZBEKISTANTADJIKISTANSOUTH KOREA

AFGHANISTAN

INDIA
650

6

Maritime Zone

ALPACINEPAL

BANGLADESH

1

MYANMAR

VIETNAMLAOSTHAILANDCAMBODIA

PHILIPPINES

Guam(U.S.A)Hawaï(U.S.A.)

SRI LANKA

1,450

4

1

Clipperton

MALAYSIA

Armed Forcesin Djibouti (FFDj)
8

INDONESIAEAST TIMOR

Tromelin

PAPUA-NEW-GUINEASOLOMON
ISLANDSVANUATU

Maritime Zone

Armed Forces in
New-Caledonia (FANC)

SAMOA
SocietyIslands

TONGA

FrenchPo
lyn

TuàmotuAustral Islands

5

Crozet Islands

2

1,660
Amsterdam& Saint-Paul Islands

4

4

NEW
ZEALAND

COMSUP FANC
Permanent Area of Responsibility

COMSUP FAZSOI

5

3

Permanent Area of Responsibility

Defence Attachés
Non-resident
Defence Attachés

Permanent Area of Responsibility

3

COMSUP FAPF

AUSTRALIA

Kerguelen Islands

1,180

GambierIslands

4

2

Armed Forces in
French Polynesia (FAPF)

Marquesas
Islandsia
es

Réunion

Wallis& Futuna

FIDJI

ALINDIEN

Armed Forces in the South
Indian Ocean Zone (FAZSOI)

2,000

BRUNEISINGAPORE

MALDIVES

MayotteScatteredIslands

1 naval
base

JAPAN

PAKISTAN

Armed Forces in the United
Arab Emirates (FFEAU)♦ APICC - Asia Pacific Intelligence Chiefs Conference♦ CHODS - Chiefs of Defence Seminar♦ IONS - Indian Ocean Naval Symposium♦ PCGF - Pacific Coast Guard Forum♦ Pacific QUAD - Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group♦ WPNS - Western Pacific Naval Symposium♦ South West Pacific Heads of Maritime Forces meeting♦ PESF - Pacific Environmental Security Forum

CHINA

Armament Attachés
French Liaison Officer
USINDOPACOM
French Liaison Officer
IFC , CRFIM, IFC-IOR

Regional Commands
XYZ XYZ

Presence Forces
or Sovereignty Forces
Aircraft deployments
Port callsA real commitment to the security of the Indo-PacificAs a maritime, air and spatial
power, France possesses highlevel intelligence gathering means
and significant force projection
platforms. France is therefore able
to contribute to each aspect of international
security with its allies and partners.

security. With a presence in all the oceans, France
faces increasing constraints on the exercise of its
sovereignty, the surveillance of its maritime domain
and the control of on-going activities. At the regional
level, France has made an effort in the establishmentof a network of maritime surveillance centred on
multilateral cooperation engagements and on the
optimisation of resources.

France organizes regular multilateral exercises in the
Indian Ocean (Papangue) and in the Pacific (Equateur,
Croix du Sud, Marara). These exercises can gather up
to several thousand military personnel coming froma dozen partner States.

Fighting against proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction and their delivery systems is crucial forinternational security.

France participates to many multilateral military
exercises in Southeast Asia (Cobra Gold, Komodo, Pitch
Black, Tempest Express, Coores, Marixs), in Northeast
Asia (Khaan Quest, Ulchi Freedom Guardian, Key
Resolve) and in the Pacific (Rimpac, Southern Katipo,
Tafakula, Americal, Kakadu, Pacific Partnership). These
exercises aim to increase mutual understanding andto create bonds between the different armed forces.
Many bilateral exercises are also organised at eachFrench Navy and Air Force assets visits in the region.
The regular high-level bilateral exercises Shakti(Army), Varuna (Navy) and Garuda (Air Force) embody
the strategic partnership bonding France and India.
France actively faces the numerous challenges
and fights illicit activities threatening maritime

France, as a permanent member of the Security
Council of the United Nations, has participated toa series of resolutions imposing sanctions against
the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea andplayed a leading role at the European Union levelfor deciding additional sanctions. France is also amember of the UN Command Military ArmisticeCommission (UNCMAC) and contributes militarily tothe monitoring of the application of the UN Security
Council’s resolutions thanks to its aircraft and ships
based in the Pacific.
France supports the training of Indo-Pacific countries’
troops to peacekeeping operations. The Frenchadvisor based in the PKO training center in Oudong(Cambodia) regularly organises training sessions
for troops preparing to deploy in French speaking
countries. French language courses are also offered
to many States of the region.

8

A strong commitment
to Humanitarian Assistanceand Disaster Relief (HADR)The Indo-Pacific region is strongly hit by natural disasters.
France regularly offers its support to the States of theregion by mobilising its Army, Naval and Air Forceassets to bring the required assistance.
In the South Pacific, France works together with
Australia and New Zealand, in accordance with
the FRANZ Agreement which enables the three States
to coordinate their humanitarian assistance actions to theIsland States.
A French advisor for civilian security is based in
Singapore. He is in charge of civil protection and crisis
management’s cooperation activities in Southeast Asia.
A liaison officer is also assigned to the Singapore
based Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster
Relief Coordination Center, which aims at coordinating themilitary aspect of HADR operations.

AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL SECURITY
France’s main defence partners
KAZAKHSTAN

Other defence partners

MONGOLIA

Area of intense engagement for maritime security(fight against drug trafficking, illegal fishery, piracy)

KHAAN QUESTUZBEKISTAN

French Liaison Officer IFC , CRFIM, IFC-IOR
KIRGHIZSTANTURKMENISTAN

Accords FRANZTADJIKISTAN
CHINE

AFGHANISTANKUWEITINDIA

BARHAIN
QATAR UNITED ARAB
EMIRATESSAUDIARABIAPAKISTAN

Pacific QUAD member states(Pacific Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group)

XYZ

Military exercices in which France is involved
Participation in surveillance missions to enforce
UN Resolution 2375 on illegal transhipments

BANGLADESH
VIETNAMLAOSTHAILANDCOBRA GOLDPIRAB JABIRU
CAMBODIAMYANMARbilateral exercices
France - India

CTF 150

4NEPAL

VARUNAGARUDASHAKTI

OMAN

JAPAN

SOUTH KOREA
KEY
RESOLVEULCHI FREEDOMGUARDIAN

INDIA

DJIBOUTI

4
PHILIPPINESSRI LANKAATALANTAMARSHALLISLANDSMICRONESIA

PALAU

MALAISIABRUNEISINGAPORE
MALDIVESKENYA

INDONESIA

KOMODOTANZANIA

MayotteKIRIBATINAURU

EAST TIMORPAPUANEWGUINEA

Tromelin

TUVALUSOLOMON
ISLANDSFRANCE
Wallis& Futuna

PAPANGUE
MOZAMBIQUE

RIMPACPACIFIC PARTNERSHIPUNITED STATESOF AMERICA

organised by France

4

SAMOA

Marquesas
Islands

FIDJI

RéunionVANUATU

4

Sca

MADAGASCAR

tt e
re
dI

n
sla

ds
Amsterdam& Saint-Paul
Islands

TONGA

SocietyIslands

NIUE

PITCH BLACK
KAKADUKOOLENDONG
AASAM

New
Caledonia

TuàmotuAustralIslands

EQUATEUR
CROIX DU SUDTAFAKULAMARARA

organised by Franceorganised by FranceNEW
ZEALAND

4

Crozet Islands

Kerguelen
Islands
SOUTHERN
KATIPO

Fre
nc
hP
a
esi
yn
ol

AUSTRALIA

GambierIslands

2016 - 2019 FRENCH FORCES ACTIVITIES IN THE INDO-PACIFICMONGOLIAKAZAKHSTANCANADA

FOCUS - PÉGASE MISSION (2018)

UNITED ARAB
EMIRATESKHAAN QUESTUZBEKISTANKYRGYZSTANTAJIKISTANSOUTH KOREA
KEY
RESOLVEULCHI FREEDOMGUARDIAN

AFGHANISTAN

Armed Forces in the United
Arab Emirates (FFEAU)
650 personnel

CHINA

sion KUWEIT(201
8)

PAKISTANBARHAIN
QATAR

SAUDI
ARABIA

INDIA

NEPAL

VARUNAGARUDASHAKTIOMANUNSCR 2375
ENFORCEMENT MISSIONBANGLADESH
MYANMAR

VIETNAMLAOSTHAILANDCOBRA GOLDPIRAB JABIRU
CAMBODIA

bilateral exercices
France - India

CTF 150
SINCE 2001

DJIBOUTI

Amphibio
us Task

Armed Forces in Djibouti (FFDj)
1 450 personnel

MALAYSIA

KENYA

Am

SINGAPORE
COORESMARIXSMALDIVES

Tromelin

17)
(20
yer
tro

MayottePAPANGUE
organised by France

MOZAMBIQUE

tte

re
n
sla
dI

Amphibious Task GroupArmed Forces in the South
Indian Ocean Zone (FAZSOI)
2,000 personnel

NICARAGUACOSTA RICA

Friga
te (2
019
)

INDONESIA

KOMODOPAPUANEWGUINEA

EAST
TIMOR

SOLOMON
ISLANDS

017)

TUVALU

Wallis& Futuna

HADR 2018

HADR
LOMBOK 2018KIRIBATI

Frig
ate (
2

NAURU

PITCH BLACK
KAKADUKOOLENDONG
AASAM(2016)VANUATU
New
Caledonia

COLOMBIA

TONGA

Armed Forces in
French Polynesia (FAPF)
1,180 personnel

PERU

NIUE

SocietyIslands

TAFAKULAMALAYSIA

MALAYSIA
CHILE

TuàmotuAustralIslands

Frigate (2018)

GambierIslands

Frigate (2016)

MARARANEW ZEALAND

French military deployments in:

XYZ

XYZ XYZ
SOUTHERN
KATIPOINDONESIA

2018

2017

2016

Deployment zones of the Carrier Strike Group (2019)

Armed Forces in
New-Caledonia (FANC)
1,660 personnel

Crozet Island

10

INDONESIA

2019

organised by France

Polar Pa
trol Vessel (2018)

BRUNEI

French
Pol
yn
es
ia

CYCLONE GITAMISSION 2018

Amsterdam & Saint-Paul
Islands

CAMBODIAECUADORMarquisas
Islands

CYCLONE WINSTONMISSION 2016

EQUATEUR
CROIX DU SUD

PHILIPPINESVIETNAMSAMOACASTORMISSION

organised by France

Kerguelen Island

LAOS

PANAMATHAILAND

AUSTRALIA

ds

SOUTH
AFRICAMARSHALLISLANDSMICRONESIA

FOCUS - SOUTH CHINA SEA

HONDURASGUATEMALA

Clipperton

FIDJI

CYCLONE FAKIROPERATION 2018

AUSTRALIABRUNEIMADAGASCAR RéunionSca

CYCLONE IDAIOPERATION 2019

RIMPACPACIFIC PARTNERSHIPPALAU

INDONESIAMEXICOEL SALVADORDesTANZANIA

ph
ibio
us T
ask
Gro
up (
201
9)

ATALANTA OPERATION
SINCE 2008

SINGAPORE

PHILIPPINESSRI LANKA

Group (
2018)

VIETNAMMALAYSIA

ask Group (2017)
ious T
phib
Am
Frigate (2018)

Péga
se M
is

INDIA

019
)

Carrier Strike Group(2019)UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
JAPAN

Frig
ate
(2

TURKMENISTAN

Military exercices in wich France is involved
Presence Forces or Sovereignty Forces
French Humanitarian Assistanceand Disaster Relief Military Operations

1,000 km2 days of navigation

France’s defence partners

Environmental security: a shared responsibility

Droughts, floods and rising waterlevels, soil erosion are not justnatural events. They are also
military events. They redraw
maps, create new tensions,displace population.
The increase in frequency and intensity of extreme
weather events, the depletion of fishing resources
and water stress hinder the resilience of States,
generate new illicit trafficking and lead to high scale
sanitary risks. By creating new security vulnerabilities,
these phenomena bring new conflicts. The IndoPacific area is particularly concerned.
In her speech given at the Munich Security
Conference in February 2018, the French Ministerfor the Armed Forces, Mrs Florence Parly, announced
that France would get engaged in “an entire sectorof environmental security preventive measures”, thatshould be “a guide of cautiousness and a guide foraction”.
France has been playing a pioneering role in thestrategic integration of the link between defence
and environment, after organising, in 2015, thefirst international conference at ministerial level
dedicated to the defence and security consequencesof climate change, and after contributing to reaching

the Paris Agreement as president of the COP21.
The French Ministry for the Armed Forces set up, in
November 2016, a geopolitical observatory of the
security and defence challenges of climate change.
This Observatory monitors a coordinated study
gathering the States party to the South Pacific Defense
Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM), which aims at assessing
the impact of climate change on the regional defence
cooperation.
The outcome of this study will be immediately
used to optimize the implementation of the FRANZ
Agreements, signed on 1992 by Australia, France and
New Zealand to coordinate civil and military assistanceon Pacific island countries affected by natural disasters.
The more frequent use of this mechanism highlights
the increasing pressure on the armed forces.
This stronger pressure is also noticeable on themaritime domain awareness. As a member of the
Pacific QUAD (Quadrilateral defence Coordination
Group) – along with the United States, Australia and
New Zealand –, whose objective is to coordinate thesecurity effort in the Pacific, France supports island
nations in establishing a sustainable managementof their natural resources, particularly fisheries. Thereis little doubt that the constant, and worrying, riseof overfishing in the South Pacific will expend to theSouth of the Indian Ocean and to the Southern Ocean,
and as far as the shoreline of Antarctica.

12

An innovative French approachFrance is able to permanently perform assessments
combining maritime surveillance and environmental
security issues thanks to its regional Commands andstaffs, its embedded officers in the different maritime
Information Fusion Centres (IFC) and in the Regional
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination
Centre (RHCC).
In order to implement a pragmatic and efficient longterm policy of environmental security preventive
measures, France is focusing on three lines of action: indepth assessment of environmental risks, sponsoring oftargeted scientific programs and organisation of regionalseminars to raise awareness and encourage mobilisation.
Theses paths open new fields of cooperation with IndoPacific States.
France wishes in priority to hold dialogue with thestakeholders committed to sustainable development andsecurity in Southeast Asia, which it believes to be a centreof gravity with regards to economy, ecology and security
for the whole Indo-Pacific. From that perspective, Franceorganised two conferences in 2017, in Vietnam and inIndonesia, and will pursue this course of action in other
ASEAN Member States.

ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE INDO-PACIFICENVIRONMENTAL RISK MAPPINGCANADA

U.S.A.

Knowledge and Anticipation

The establishment of an Indo-Pacific environmental
risk mapping, within the framework of multilateral
cooperation, is a priority. France and Australia have set
UNITEDstructure
STATES
up a dedicatedin order to jointly assess the
OF AMERICA
level of risk in the Indian and the Southern Oceans –cyclones, fishing resources, pandemics, migrations,sea-level rise.

JAPAN
CHINA

INDIA

BANGLADESH
MYANMAR VIET NAM
THAILANDMEXICO
Hawai(U.S.A.)PHILIPPINESCAMBODIASOMALIA

SRI LANKA

PALAU

MALAYSIA BRUNEISINGAPORE

MALDIVESINDONESIAEAST TIMOR

MayotteKIRIBATISOLOMON
ISLANDSTUVALU
Wallis& Futuna

VANUATU

Tromelin

FIDJI

MOZAMBIQUE

SAMOA

t
at
S c I slaned s redAUSTRALIA

New
Caledonia

French P
oly
ne
si

a

NIUE
Réunion

Early warning alerts for cyclones
EL SALVADORMARSHALLISLANDSMICRONESIA

NAURU

PAPUA
NEW GUINEA“KIVI KUAKA” PROGRAM
GUATEMALATONGA
FRANCENICARAGUACOSTA RICA
An accurate observationof migratory
birds could bring
PANAMA
Clipperton
vital information, complimentary to COLOMBIA
satellite data, inorder to prepare people and armedECUADOR
forces for climateinduced natural catastrophes. The “Kivi Kuaka”
PERU Museum for
Program, monitored by the National
Natural History with the support of the Ministry for the
Armed Forces and the Ministry for ecological andInclusive Transition, emphasises France’s will to protect
its nationals and to contribute to human security in the
Indo-Pacific.

Amsterdamand Saint-Paul Islands

CHILE

Crozet Islands
Kerguelen Islands

Overfishing area
Area vulnerable to rising water levels
Area exposed to cyclones
FRANZ Agreements
RHCC-embedded French Liaison Officer
Contributors to environmental security studies

NEW ZEALAND“MARINE LEGACY” INITIATIVE
Crisis prevention

The fishing resources of the Southeast Asian sea basin
are depleting significantly. The spread of fishing fleets
towards the economic exclusive zones of third States
already leads Indo-Pacific Nations to strengthen theirsecurity policy. France fosters closer dialogue with its
Partners to identify jointly priority preventive
measures that need to be undertaken.

Global commons: a challenge for multilateralismRivalry among states is growing over
the access to strategic shared areas.
The lack of regulation in some fields(spatial, cyber) or the challenges
posed to the established rules inothers (maritime space, air domain and polar
regions) call for a reinforcement of multilateraldialogues in order to promote stability.

within the framework of the Antarctic treaty system
illustrates the need for increased alertness, in orderto ensure that the Antarctic is not turned into an areaof competition.

Some of the fundamental provisions of the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea are notrespected in the China seas. There is a strong needfor an international mobilisation to counter the
progressive weakening of the law of the sea that
could lead to the rise of interstate tensions.

Within cyberspace, the frequency, scope andtechnological sophistication of malicious actions
increase. Some States support these actions andtherefore get closer to the use of force and armed
attack, which could result in important damages.

The issue of freedom of civil and military circulation
also concerns the airspace. Along with maritime
areas, airspace is increasingly subjected to the riskof illicit trafficking and terrorism. The diminution ofinterstate trust could contribute to increasing thesethreats.
The demilitarised Antarctic region is characterisedby its status of “natural reserve dedicated to peaceand science”. This status is questioned by somepowerful states coveting the primary raw materialsof the continent, as well as the mineral and fisheryresources of the Southern Ocean. The difficulty of
establishing extended protected maritime areas

In the spatial field, the multiplication of public andprivate actors has several effects: it trivialises theaccess to the exo-atmospheric space, increases therisk of proliferation, intensifies industrial competition,and fuels interstate rivalry.

Counterterrorism and cyber security policies focus
on the detention, cross-referencing and exploitationof digital information in order to protect personaldata, to trace and counter cyber-attacks.
Faced with these new global challenges, France
will continue to promote the rule of law based on
the United Nations Charter over the use of force ininternational relations.

14

The French ambitious
cyberdefense policy
The 2018 Strategic Review on Cyber Defense builds up arobust national apparatus for the adequate protection ofdata. It seeks several objectives:
A better integration of our cyber defensemeans, based on better coordination between the
different services involved.
The strengthening of our cyber protection
device; the reinforcement of the State networks
resiliency and of operators of vital importance, as
well as of other essential services.
The regulation of cyberspace, through therespect and implementation of international law
and of certified standards of behaviour.
A reinforcement of our technical, structuraland operational cooperation with our allies andpartners, mainly within the European Union andNATO.

“L’Astrolabe”, a polar patrol vessel committed to the Antarctic
Treaty System© Marine Nationale

178
years
after
the
expedition led by the French
Navy Captain Dumontd’Urville, the first man everto set foot on Antarctica (20January 1840), the French
Navy is back in Terre Adélie.
With the maiden voyage of“L’Astrolabe”, in November
2017, the French Armed
Forces added a newcompetency to the spectrumof their capabilities: icenavigation. This mission
has been carried out strictlyin accordance with theframework defined by the
Antarctic Treaty System.
This polar patrol vessel isthe result of a partnership
between the French Navy,the French Administrationfor
Sub-Antarctic
andAntarctic Territories (TAAF)
and the French Polar InstitutePaul-Emile
Victor (IPEV).
Her mission consists inensuringthelogistic
supply by sea of the twoscientificstations Dumontd’Urville and Concordia (aFranco-Italian
station).
These stations are managed,
from a functional and a
research program perspective,by the IPEV (jointly with
the Programma Nazionale Di
Richerche in Antarctiche in
Concordia). The preservationof the international status of
Antarctica and the Southern
Ocean - “Nature Reserve
dedicated to peace andscience” - is a priority forFrance.

Naval and Air
Power projection
Freedom of maritime and air
navigation is a fundamental
principle of international
relations, guaranteed by theUnited Nations Convention
on the Law Of the Sea(UNCLOS).
This principle is essential tothe credibility of the decisions
made by the United Nations
Security Council, each timethey are to be enforcedby military means. It also
contributes to the strategic
autonomy of States, which
is beneficial to maintaining
a rules-based international
order.

© Richard NICOLAS-NELSON / Armée de l’air

FrancedetainsPower
projection
capabilities
that only a limited numberof States are able to avail
themselves. The Carrier
Strike Group centred on
the aircraft carrier “Charlesde Gaulle” can be deployedover all the seas of the
globe, for long periods

Réunion
MADAGASCARFranceisparticularly
attached to the principledmanagement of the global
commons through legal
procedures and dialogue.

AUSTRALIA

SOUTH
AFRICAANTARCTICof time while embarking
navalized Rafale fighter jets
as well as Hawkeye airborne
early warning and control
aircraft. The interoperability
with the French Air Force(Rafale, strategic airlift
A400M, tanker aircraft
A330-MRTT, etc.) and withthe allied U.S. forces in the
Indo-Pacific is absolute. It isnotably ensured by strategic
satellite systems, which are
implemented under theset of international rules
framing the use of the outerspace.

NEWZEALAND© Yoann Letourneau / Marine Nationale

Structuring partnerships in the armament sphereF

rance is the sixth largest economy
in the world. It has comprehensive
and independent military resources,
as illustrated by its autonomous
design and manufacturing of nuclear
deterrence capabilities, satellites, fighter
aircraft, submarines, ships, tanks, combat
vehicles, missiles of all kinds, and all equipment
contributing to C4ISR (Computerized Command,
Control, Communication, Intelligence, Surveillance,
Reconnaissance).

This capacity is unique in Europe, based on strong
and innovative industrial resources. Its defense
technological and industrial base is made of adozen world-class firms and around 4,000 small
and medium companies. Sustaining the vitality ofthis ecosystem is a major concern to protect Frenchsovereignty.
Guaranteeing the supply and the operational
readiness of armed forces’ equipment, in particular of
those engaged in the deterrence policy, is a condition
for French freedom of action. In this respect, it
constitutes a pillar of its strategic autonomy, as it was
reaffirmed in the Strategic Review on defense andNational Security.

The armament cooperation policy of France ischaracterised by its experience, its openness toindustrial cooperation, transfer of technology andexpertise, as well as the provision of long-term
training, logistics support and assistance.
France is the fourth-largest armament exporter andcontributes to building and modernising its allies
and partners’ defense capabilities. In the Indo-Pacific,
Australia, India, Malaysia and Singapore are France’s
most important Partners in the armament sphere.
France is also developing cooperation in this fieldwith most of the Indo-Pacific States and attends ona regular basis to the defense equipment exhibitionsorganised in the region.
By strengthening its partnerships, France ismaterialising in a concrete manner its cooperation
policy in the military sphere, a key element of its
foreign policy. The on-going momentum allows
capitalising on armament communities to foster
interoperability and to consider joint operations.
France exports control policy is strict and in line with
its international commitments and the principles oftransparency as well as protection of human rights.
These efforts aim at preserving international stability.

16

A long-term capacity support
The establishment of trust-based relations between
France and its partners is a prerequisite for all armamentcontracts. It is pre-requisite for such long-term
engagements, which represent a significant human,
technical and budgetary investment for the importer.
France’s objective is to develop a close and long-term
relationship in order to create favourable conditions forthe conclusion of structuring trade deals for the bilateralrelationship. Contracts signed with India, Australia as
well as those with Malaysia and Singapore constitute
some examples of this approach.
The armament cooperation policy of France ischaracterised by its openness to industrial
cooperation, transfer of technology and expertise,adapted to the needs of the partner nation. France offers
numerous excellence industrial centres covering a wide
spectrum of defence capabilities. The future submarine
programme with Australia, and the A400M ATLAS
one with Malaysia are perfect illustrations of France’s
commitments in those domains.
This engagement comes with the development ofa long-term political dialogue.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF FRENCH ORDERS 2008-2017

Asia
29%

Near and Middle East

33,675 M€

Central Asia

853 M€

Africa4.4%

Oceania0.9%

North-East Asia

3,345 M€

Americas
13.1%
Other
2.2%

Near andMiddle East
40%

Europe10.3%

MAIN PARTNERS OF FRANCE IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC AS REGARDS TO ARMAMENTS
in millions of euros (2008-2017)
AUSTRALIA

751

INDONESIA

1,342

SOUTH KOREA

1,532

MALAYSIA

1,768

South Asia

14,143 M€
Oceania

766 M€South-East Asia

6,083 M€

2,279

SINGAPORE

13,184

INDIA
2000

6000

10000

14000

Source DGA-DI / 2018 Report to Parliament

18

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2018 Edition - updated in May 2019

Editorial board

Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy
Alice Guitton (Director General)
Commander Numa Durbec (Policy Officer)
Mariam Pontoni (Policy Officer)
Lucie Lelyon (Graphic Designer)
DICoD
Commander Jérôme Baroë (Publications Office)Jean-François Munier (Production)www.defense.gouv.fr

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