French ships, both Navy warships and commercially owned privateers, operated along the Indian trade routes from their base at the isolated island of Île de France and recognised the strategic importance of the Sunda Straits.
Kapal-kapal Prancis, baik kapal perang Angkatan Laut maupun privateer milik komersial, dioperasikan sepanjang rute perdagangan India dari pangkalan mereka di pulau terisolasi Île de France dan menyadari kepentingan strategis Selat Sunda.