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.

France is working toward negotiating a Visiting Forces Agreement with the Philippines, French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel said. This undertaking follows the Philippines’ successful agreement with Japan and the escalating Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Now that the spectacular negotiation with Japan has come to the impressive result we saw last week – and congratulations for that, we are working hard to be one of the countries next in line,” she said in her speech on the 8th anniversary of the South China Sea arbitral award.

Ambassador Fontanel reiterated her country’s full commitment to supporting the Philippines in upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, in accordance with UNCLOS and other international laws and alongside other like-minded partners.

UNCLOS is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Philippines, China, and France are among the 168 signatories to the treaty.

“We are fully committed to contribute to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific together with the Philippines and other ASEAN and like-minded partners,” she said.

France and the Philippines are two maritime nations that value democracy, the rule of law, and multilateralism. And the strengthening partnership between our two countries continues to grow stronger, the ambassador said.

She said France’s strengthened bilateral relations with the Philippines is demonstrated by the visit of the French Minister of Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu in December 2023 and the subsequent signing of a letter of intent to enhance defense partnerships.

She said France’s participation in the bilateral maritime Balikatan exercise, the port call of the French Navy’s Bretagne destroyer, and the upcoming Pegase Mission deployment all point to a deepening defense cooperation between France and the Philippines.

The establishment of a resident defense mission and the presence of French Defense Attaché Captain Stephan Litzler further solidify these efforts, she added.

In 2024, France’s operational activity in the Philippines ranks third in the Southeast Asia region, reflecting Paris’s increased attention to the geopolitical dynamics and the unique position of the Philippines.

She noted the increasing tensions perpetuated by China and the risk of uncontrolled escalation with regional or even global repercussions.

The ambassador highlighted France’s dedication to upholding a rule-based order in the South China Sea and reaffirmed France’s shared interests in the Indo-Pacific.

She said France’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region is demonstrated by its consistent support for the 2016 Arbitral Award and its active involvement in defense and security partnerships in the region.

France’s observer status in the ADMM+ (ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting) expert groups since 2022 underscores its commitment to contributing to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

The relevance of the 2016 Award, Ambassador Fontanel noted, lies in its address of critical issues such as the illegitimacy of the “nine-dash line,” the rights of Filipino fishermen, and the condemnation of harmful Chinese activities in the South China Sea.

The ongoing challenges require increased vigilance and resources from all partners, the ambassador said.

Despite China’s provocations and violations of international rules, notably disregarding the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision in favor of the Philippines, France continues to support the Philippines’ non-confrontational approach anchored in international law and multilateralism.

The 2016 Arbitral Award, the ambassador said, sent a powerful message to the world about the importance of a rule-based international order, a principle that remains challenged but essential for collective peace and prosperity.

Ambassador Fontanel said that as a “blue nation” with significant maritime interests and territories, France shares the Philippines’ concerns over sovereign rights and illegal fishing.