By Monsi A. Serrano
French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel has reaffirmed France’s commitment to strengthening defense and maritime cooperation with the Philippines.
Speaking at the 9th anniversary celebration of the Philippines’ 2016 Arbitral Victory on the South China Sea last week, Ambassador Fontanel proposed a transformative step forward through the ongoing negotiation of a France-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to enhance regional security and operational readiness.
“The legacy of the 2016 Arbitral Award is not only legal—it is a living challenge, a call for vigilance, partnership, and principled action,” Ambassador Fontanel said.
Entering a new era of strategic cooperation
Ambassador Fontanel emphasized that the evolving security environment in the South China Sea—marked by increased coercion, hybrid threats, and strategic competition—requires a coordinated response grounded in international law and trust among maritime nations.
With over two million French citizens in the Indo-Pacific and the world’s second-largest Exclusive Economic Zone, France is a resident Indo-Pacific power and a natural partner of the Philippines. The two nations share mutual interests in maritime stability, freedom of navigation, and sustainable development.
The proposed VFA would establish a robust legal and operational framework for joint training, military operations, and rapid response coordination—particularly in humanitarian, environmental, and security missions. This follows the historic visit of the Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group to the Philippines earlier this year and the Letter of Intent signed by both defense ministers in December 2023.
The French envoy also outlined France’s broader vision for the Indo-Pacific—a “coalition of independents” comprising sovereign nations in Europe and Asia working together to resist coercion and uphold strategic autonomy.
“France does not seek alignment through blocs, but a network of partners committed to ASEAN centrality, international law, and shared prosperity,” she stated.
The Philippines’ participation in multilateral exercises such as La Pérouse—involving navies from Australia, Canada, India, Japan, the US, and more—demonstrated the country’s growing role in regional security. She praised the Philippines’ engagement through the EU-funded IORIS platform for maritime cooperation, further cementing its place among trusted partners.
A comprehensive and shared future for a peaceful Indo-Pacific
France’s offer of partnership extends beyond defense, encompassing cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, resilient supply chains, blue economy development, and climate resilience. Ambassador Fontanel underscored the importance of adapting to future threats while ensuring alliances remain credible, balanced, and responsive.
Negotiations for the France-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement began in Paris in June 2025. Once finalized, the VFA is expected to reinforce France and the Philippines’ mutual commitment to peace, sovereignty, and a rules-based Indo-Pacific order.
“Security means having reliable friends,” Ambassador Fontanel concluded. “Together, we can ensure the Indo-Pacific remains a region of peace, prosperity, and opportunity for all.”
