The Indo-Pacific is an area facing profound strategic changes. China's increasing power and territorial claims, as well as the global competition under way with the US, are weakening the balance of power in the region. The context is also marked by transnational threats, proliferation crises and security consequences due to climate change. Oceans are at the heart of tensions, and securing shipping lanes and freedom of navigation remain major issues.

The AUKUS security pact marks a shift toward a logic of blocks. It reflects a vision which prioritizes military confrontation with China engaging a logic of military blocks likely to aggravate tensions in the Indo-Pacific and particularly in Southeast Asia. Some countries in the region have already voiced their concern, such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

The region’s approach based on ASEAN centrality offers an alternative to confrontation that meets the aspirations of Indo-Pacific countries, particularly in Southeast Asia where countries like Indonesia support the development of an inclusive regional architecture where dialogue and cooperation prevail over rivalry.

This is the approach proposed by France, with the adoption in 2018 of its Indo-Pacific strategy, which aims to maintain an open and inclusive space, free of any form of coercion and based on the promotion of multilateralism and the respect of international law. With France's overseas territories and communities, which represent a population of nearly 2 million people, France is a true Indo-Pacific nation where we want to be a stabilizing power.

Security and defense are one of the pillars of France’s Indo-Pacific strategy, in which we will contribute to the security of Southeast Asia by promoting military and security cooperation; and preserve, alongside our partners, access to common areas in a context of strategic competition and increasingly restrictive military environments. In this context we will reaffirm our naval presence in the region, and strengthen our partnerships, especially with Indonesia.

The other pillars of our strategy are clear: sustainable and inclusive prosperity; green transition with a particular focus on clean energy and transportation, protection of biodiversity and sustainable ocean management; improved connectivity including the development of digital partnerships and human security with a priority on health issues.