France and the Philippines at maritime crossroads
The Philippines and France have more things in common than most people think. Both the Philippine archipelago as well as French territories are part of the Indo-Pacific. Both are blue nations—maritime states that are home to a vast range of marine ecosystems and resources. These, in turn, support the livelihoods of their communities and contribute to their economies, boosting their tourism sectors.
It follows that our two nations also share similar maritime risks and challenges.
Foremost among these are the vulnerabilities that arise from being maritime nations. France and the Philippines are confronted by various forms of danger like climate change and environmental issues—rising sea levels, stronger cyclones, and biodiversity loss. There are also issues that result from illegal fishing and construction. For us, this means areas such as the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
A bigger challenge, however, is the aggressive actions and maneuvers of other countries intent on subverting the rule of law.
In recent months, the Philippines has seen China firing water cannons, directing lasers to crews, and blocking and ramming Philippine ships. These acts have jeopardized the safety of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and national security. The fact that the South China Sea—facilitating one-third of global trade and is a maritime area that houses vast fishery resources and hydrocarbon deposits—holds immense strategic and economic importance to Indo-Pacific states elevates the issue to that of great concern.
In response, the Marcos administration has demonstrated its commitment to addressing these external security challenges. Likewise, the Philippines is actively investing in its naval capacities, including diversifying its defense strategic cooperation with like-minded partners.
France is also concerned with these developments in the WPS. It knows that any disruption of the vital maritime routes would threaten global economic and trade security. Furthermore, foreign ships, such as those from France, regularly navigate the South China Sea to exercise freedom of navigation and concretely uphold international maritime law.
Given our similar concerns and challenges, and given our shared commitment to and mutual respect for international law and appreciation for freedom of maritime navigation, the Philippines has embarked on a strategic cooperation with France.
This does not only focus on the environment, climate change, and biodiversity but also on maritime security and defense.
Among the steps that have been taken: In 2023, the two countries signed a letter of intent outlining an agenda for increasing France’s presence in the Indo-Pacific. France participated in the 39th Balikatan in April 2024—its first time joining the biggest annual drill exercises of the Philippines with the US and other like-minded partners. In July 2024, a detachment of the French Air and Space Force PEGASE Mission visited the Philippines following its deployment in the Pacific as part of its air diplomacy and promotion of military cooperation actions with the Philippines.
The Philippines, through a P25.8-billion Official Development Assistance funded acquisition project of France, is set to receive 40 fast response craft, the largest single-purchase in the Modernization of the PCG.
Indeed, 2024 was a year of firsts; this year will see a continuation of these initiatives. Specifically, enhancing maritime domain awareness is essential for improving maritime readiness, allowing for more effective monitoring, detection, and response to threats.
On Jan. 23, the French Embassy in the Philippines, in partnership with Stratbase Institute, hosted a forum titled “Exploring Maritime Cooperation: The Role of International Partnerships on Maritime Security.”
This was the second installment of the Blue Talks series.
A joint policy brief, co-authored by Stratbase Institute and the French Institute of International Relations and focusing on the challenges and opportunities in maritime cooperation between the two nations, was also presented during the event.
“While defense is central to maritime security, it is not the only aspect. For an archipelagic nation like the Philippines, maritime safety is equally critical. Ensuring the safe and efficient transport of people and goods is essential for economic prosperity, just as territorial and maritime sovereignty is crucial for national security,” said the French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel.
As the Philippines strives to address its maritime challenges, both in the areas of defense and economic security, it looks to like-minded partners for solidarity and mutual assistance. It is good to note that France, another blue nation, is one such friend.
—————-
Dindo Manhit is the founder and CEO of Stratbase Group.
