France's Indo-Pacific strategy
In May 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron defined for the first time France’s Indo-Pacific strategy and described France as a fully-fledged Indo-Pacific country.
Indopac.fr helps for the implementation of France’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
Why an Indo-Pacific strategy?
Over the past two decades, the Indo-Pacific region has emerged as a major driver of global growth, leading to a significant increase in France’s trade with countries in the region. Despite some tensions, there are ongoing efforts towards regional integration in the Indo-Pacific, including initiatives such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Connectivity is also on the rise in the Indo-Pacific, with several programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative being implemented. The region’s increasing urbanization necessitates the development of more infrastructure facilities. With its strategy, France must seize the opportunities presented by the growing Indo-Pacific economy.
However, the Indo-Pacific region is also grappling with potential environmental issues arising from climate change and threats to biodiversity. The region’s economic development calls for a rapid response to environmental transition. To this end, the Indo-Pacific strategy should promote cooperation on environmental challenges between French and Indo-Pacific stakeholders.
Moreover, the Indo-Pacific region is witnessing growing competition among major powers, which threatens the regional balance of power. France’s Indo-Pacific strategy aims to promote regional stability and safeguard the rule of law in the face of this challenge.
Four priorites in Indo-Pacific
France’s Indo-Pacific strategy is a comprehensive approach designed to bolster its position as a key player in the Indo-Pacific region, and to tackle shared challenges in collaboration with other nations. The strategy rests on four pillars.
France's Indo-Pacific strategy
France and the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
France supports the implementation and development of EU strategy for cooperation int the Indo-Pacific. This strategy was launched by the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in September 2021.
The Indo-Pacific region has become strategically important for the EU, not only regarding trade, but also in relation to innovation, governance and development.
The EU is one of the key trading partners of most Indo-Pacific countries. China, Japan, South Korea and India rank among the EU’s top 10 largest trading partners. The Indo-Pacific region is also a major source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Europe with Singapore, Japan and China being three of the top 10 investors in the EU; equally, the EU is the largest investor in the Indo-Pacific region.
The initiatives supported by the EU operate in a tense, geopolitical context, however, defence is only one of the priorities established by the EU in the Indo-Pacific region; other priority areas include sustainable prosperity, green transition, ocean governance, digital governance, connectivity and human security. This is a comprehensive strategy that aims at fostering cooperation between the two regions.
France is an active actor of the partnerships signed between the EU and Indo-Pacific countries.
