Amid growing tensions in the West Philippine Sea due to worsening Chinese aggression, the French carrier strike group (CSG) has made a historic stopover in Subic Bay and Manila starting February 21 as part of its deployment in the Indo-Pacific under mission Clemenceau 25.
According to a news release from the French embassy, this marks the first time the group is visiting the Philippines, highlighting the growing cooperation between the two nations in the face of shared security concerns in the region.
The CSG, which includes the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, two multi-mission destroyers, an air defense destroyer, and the auxiliary oil replenishment ship Jacques Chevallier, has traveled over 12,000 kilometers from its home port in Toulon, France, after two and a half months at sea.
This visit is part of a broader framework established by a letter of intent signed in December 2023 between France and the Philippines, endorsed by Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro and French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu. The letter focuses on strengthening military cooperation and enhancing interactions between the two countries’ armed forces.
In line with this, French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel, along with senior military officials from all three branches of France’s armed forces, were scheduled to board the Charles de Gaulle on February 21 for an official visit and to present the Clemenceau 25 mission prior to the ship’s stopover.
Clemenceau 25 offers a unique opportunity to further strengthen Franco-Philippine relations, building on previous interactions in 2024. These include France’s inaugural participation in the Balikatan exercise with the frigate Vendémiaire, the visit of the destroyer Bretagne to Manila in May 2024, the stopover of the frigate Prairial in Cebu in October 2024, and the enhanced stopover of the Pegase mission at Clark Air Base.
Ahead of the CSG’s stopover, the Philippine Air Force was scheduled to engage in air interactions with the Navy’s Rafale jets from the embarked carrier air wing. Additionally, one of the CSG’s destroyers will conduct a bilateral exercise with the Philippine Navy’s BRP José Rizal and BRP Gregorio Del Pilar.
Since February 5, the CSG’s Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft have been stationed at Clark Air Base in Luzon to support the group’s operations. Crewmembers of the ATL2 detachments have already held numerous exchanges with officers from the Philippine Air Force.
These interactions reflect a shared commitment to enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, where both nations have economic interests and the shared responsibility of protecting their citizens. This cooperation is further solidified through regular joint training exercises such as Sama Sama, Croix du Sud, Marara, and Balikatan.
During the three-day stopover, the crew will have the opportunity to explore the Philippines, engage with locals, and participate in a basketball game organized by the non-government organization ANAK-TNK, which will involve both sailors and local youth.
