PH-France military defense ties to be strengthened by joint exercises

The Philippines is gearing up for more joint military exercises with France this year including cooperative maritime activities, the French Embassy in Manila said—a collaboration seen to greatly enhance the relationship between the two nations.

On Friday, Philippine Air Force FA-50 jets and French Navy Rafale jets took to the skies in coordinated flights over France's flagship aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, as part of their maritime cooperative initiative.

French Ambassador Marie Fontanel shared her excitement about the event, saying, "It also provides once again vital opportunities for exercises between the two armed forces, and that’s truly the purpose of the letter of intent: to foster deeper strategic ties between us. These port visits and training exercises really support this goal."

Since President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assumed office, various agreements have been established to enhance the Philippines’ military relations in maritime defense and security with countries like France, Australia, and New Zealand. This is also part of the Philippines’ trilateral partnership with Japan and the United States.

Earlier, the US assured the Philippines that despite shifts in its foreign policy and aid assistance under President Donald Trump, agreements between the two countries will remain intact.

Fontanel emphasized that France’s growing support for the Philippines in maritime defense, security, and economic areas is completely separate from the US's budget cuts and diminishing support to other countries, stating, "Our roadmap was crafted independently and we are currently executing it, so there’s no relation to what happens in the US or anywhere else globally."

She also highlighted that the French defense industry has long been ready to equip the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with necessary materials as part of the nation’s modernization strategy under its Horizon Three initiative. The French Embassy has received a "Request for Information" from the Philippines to explore equipment options, including French-made submarines.

Fontanel mentioned, "We will be prepared for any requests from Philippine authorities, and we’ve already had some discussions underway regarding this."

In 2023, the French shipbuilder Naval Group established an office in the Philippines and is currently waiting for the government’s final decision on submarine procurement. The Naval Group is renowned as a leading producer of submarines, including nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.

President Marcos has previously shown interest in acquiring submarines to enhance the Philippines’ defense capabilities but stressed that the focus would primarily be on developing or purchasing anti-submarine technologies—capabilities designed to detect submarines to safeguard Philippine waters. — BM, GMA Integrated News