By Marinel E. Peroy
French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel announced on Thursday that the French Carrier Strike Group, led by the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, will visit the Philippines at the end of February. The announcement was made during a forum hosted by the French Embassy in Makati City.
According to Fontanel, the Charles de Gaulle will participate in a joint exercise in the Philippine Sea before making its historic port call in Manila.
“This will be Charles de Gaulle’s first visit to the Philippines,” she said, adding that the aircraft carrier will conduct joint maritime exercises with the United States and Japan in the eastern Philippine Sea.
“It underscores France’s commitment to strengthening its involvement alongside the Philippines and will facilitate numerous joint activities with the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Ambassador Fontanel said.
The French envoy highlighted the broader significance of maritime cooperation, saying that such collective efforts promote freedom of navigation and adherence to the international rules-based order.
“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,” she said.
The ambassador said ensuring the safe and efficient transport of people and goods is essential to economic prosperity, alongside territorial and maritime sovereignty, which are crucial for national security.
International cooperation key for PH and Indo-Pacific
In partnership with the Stratbase Institute, the forum gathered members of the diplomatic community, government stakeholders, academia, think tanks, and other like-minded partners. Notable attendees included ambassadors such as H.E. Endo Kazuya (Japan), H.E. Massimo Santoro (European Union), H.E. Agus Widjojo (Indonesia), H.E. Lai Thai Binh (Vietnam), and DHM Dr. Moya Collett (Australia).
The panel discussion featured key speakers, including Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad (spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea and Inspector General, Philippine Navy), Coast Guard Rear Admiral Inocencio Rosario Jr. (commander of the Philippine Coast Guard’s Special Operations Force), and Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Sonia Malaluan.
A joint policy brief on France-Philippines maritime cooperation was also presented, co-authored by Ms. Céline Pajon of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) and Rear Admiral José Renan Suárez (Ret.).
With the theme “Exploring Maritime Cooperation: The Role of International Partnerships on Maritime Security,” the forum served as the second installment of the Blue Talks series. It underlined the importance of international collaboration in modernizing critical infrastructure, ensuring maritime safety, and strengthening strategic partnerships to address shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
