France has included the Philippines in its annual air mission in the Indo- Pacific for the first time, aiming to build closer military ties with Manila since the two countries began talks on enhancing military cooperation in December 2023, according to the South China Morning Post on July 19.
French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu (left) shakes hands with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro after signing documents in Manila on December 2, 2023.
Accordingly, a group of French aircraft will stop at Clark Air Base (Philippines) as part of Pegase 24 - the annual mission of the French Air and Space Force to the Indo- Pacific to demonstrate the ability to deploy air power.
Participating in the mission, France dispatched two Rafale multi-role fighters, an A400M tactical transport aircraft and an A330 multi-role refueling transport aircraft.
Commenting on the above information, the Philippine Department of National Defense said on July 15 that during the stopover, bilateral activities are expected to help build the foundation for air-to-air cooperation between the two countries, emphasizing that this move will be the first in the history of Philippine-French defense relations.
"It is noteworthy that over the past three years, France has expanded its defense cooperation with the Philippines. A deeper, more comprehensive agreement seems a natural progression," said Don McLain Gill, a professor at the School of International Studies at De La Salle University in the Philippines.
Earlier, French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel said last week that they will demonstrate their commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight as essential to ensuring an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
French Air Force aircraft perform during the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, France, on July 14, 2024.
In June, France also appointed a permanent defense attaché to the Philippines, just months after Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu met and pledged to strengthen bilateral defense ties. In April, the French navy also participated in the Balikatan exercise in the Philippines for the first time.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer , the two countries are also negotiating a defense pact that would allow the sending of military forces to each other's territories for joint exercises.
Joshua Espena of the International Security and Development Cooperation (Philippines) think tank said that working with countries like the Philippines would allow France to reach out and increase its influence in the region. "By building its own picture, Paris can diversify its options to navigate this uncertain time," Espena added.
Apart from defense cooperation, analysts say the Philippines could also benefit from closer cooperation with France in areas such as attracting investment and boosting bilateral trade.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phap-philippines-lan-dau-tien-hanh-su-menh-khong-quan-lich-su-18524071915063453.htm
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