France offers SE Asia an often forgotten third way choice

This article appeared on Pacific Forum and is republished with permission. Read the original here.

Despite having a long-standing presence in Southeast Asia, France’s current engagement in the region remains limited. Since 2018, France has been formalizing its Indo-Pacific strategy to bolster its regional assets and assert its identity as an Indo-Pacific power, fostering new relationships in Asia.

However, despite this strategy, France’s effectiveness in Southeast Asia is still lacking, as it prioritizes the Indian Ocean due to its territorial interests, forming the cornerstone of its Indo-Pacific foreign policy.

France’s attention is also divided due to handling ongoing conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the war in Gaza, and domestic European affairs, which threaten Europe’s security and require France’s leadership.

Southeast Asia’s complex geopolitics, including maritime disputes and competition among major powers, are potential sources of conflict. Additionally, Southeast Asia’s rise as the most dynamic area in the world prompts a reevaluation of France’s regional policy.

The French government’s policy document, “France’s Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific”, emphasizes a commitment to a third way in the region. It aims to collaborate with all well-intentioned powers committed to non-traditional security, particularly in addressing climate change, given that many ASEAN countries are less advanced in this area.

Southeast Asia is highly vulnerable to climate change, facing challenges like rising sea levels, heat waves, floods, droughts and extreme weather events. France, as a leader in the fight against climate change, can leverage its research, funding and experience to collaborate with Southeast Asian countries