France increases stake in geopolitics of the Pacific

 As a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, France will try to improve its stake in the geopolitics of the Pacific Islands in general and Polynesia in particular, in view of the increasing importance of the region.

In Paris, new geostrategic arc of strategic thinking, the Indo-Pacific space extends from the shores of East Africa and Southern Africa to the coasts of North, Central, and South America; and for France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces, it is “a security continuum which extends from Djibouti to French Polynesia.”

This means the Pacific Islands and more so, Polynesia, will find increased importance in Paris expanding strategic horizon.

France’s geopolitical interest is rooted in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, and Clipperton Island as well as Reunion Island, Mayotte, and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. Paris understands that these Islands collectively make up the second most important exclusive economic zone in the world.

France has its attraction among the small island nations of the Pacific.

The FRANZ Agreement

In 1992, France, Australia and New Zealand decided to coordinate their emergency management efforts in the South Pacific through the FRANZ Arrangement to optimise their humanitarian assistance during disasters. The FRANZ has a military connotation in that it has a civilian purpose of coordination during the emergency prone islands in the South Pacific.

The Agreement provides a suitable framework for considering the political, economic and social difficulties that constrain efficient disaster management in Pacific islands. In that sense, France’s position is more complex than that of Australia and New Zealand.

The FRANZ operations still face many challenges; however, the potential expansion of the partnership could provide a solution to the main challenge: going beyond simple emergency management and investing in disaster risk reduction and capacity building.

As a nation of the Indo-Pacific, France operates in the South Pacific through  its permanent-based military assets, which are composed of 7000 defence personnel, 15 warships and 38 aircraft.

In order to strive for better interoperability, Paris, Delhi and Canberra will work for better naval security cooperation aimed at unifying their geostrategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. This will be held under the overall strategic umbrella of the United States.

 Potential for increased presence

In that context, France ports its Pacific Fleet in Papeete, French Polynesia and has sizable land-based garrisons there and in New Caledonia. Although these garrisons are designed to reinforce French sovereignty over its territorial possessions and thus have internal security functions within them, they constitute overseas deployments for the soldiers involved and are combat-ready (local and mainlander gendarmes do domestic policing).

As an extension, France can qualify to call herself a credible maritime-military power in the South Pacific.

As a matter of record, French military forces in the South Pacific are not as integrated into US strategic planning as are Australian forces however it shares military  intelligence with their Antipodean and US counterparts. This aspect will increase as Paris starts developing greater potential for its geopolitical role in the Pacific Islands. Paris will enhance cooperation with the US Indo Pacific Command based in Hawaii.

Logistics Exchange Agreement

As an extension, France by having a Logistics Exchange Agreement with India will allow its military assets to be used by New Delhi as a part of reciprocal military engagement.

This arrangement will work well with New Delhi’s engagement of sharing military engagements with the United States as a part of its Logistics Exchange Memorandum Of Agreement. It is expected that France will facilitate Indo-US military engagement in the South Pacific region in the years to come as a part of its overall military commitment in the Indo-Pacific.

France is also expected to increase its stake in the Polynesian Spearhead Group (PLG).

The PLG was formed in September 2011 when Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi initiated a meeting with the leaders of Tonga, Tuvalu, the Cook Islands, and Niue on the margins of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit in Auckland.

On that note, the idea PLG was modelled after the Melanesian Spearhead Group and designed to bring together the independent or self-governing countries or territories of Polynesia to address mutual concerns. 

Challenges in Melanesian realm

However France has its challenges in the Melanesian realm of the Pacific Islands. 

For instance, if the Canak Independence Movement in New Caledonia continues to grow, given the significant Indian-origin population in the French overseas territory, India might attempt to play a greater diplomatic role in resolving the dispute given its historical ties to the Melanesian country. It will require significant understanding between India and France. This aspect will work when India finds itself a position in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

MSG has thrown its weight behind the Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) of New Caledonia which is leading the self-determination movement.

The Noumea Accord was an agreement between the French Government and the FLNKS representing the Kanaky people of New Caledonia on May 5, 1998. This signed Agreement provided for some transfer of shared sovereignty establishments and new citizenship for New Caledonia.

The Naumea Accord jelled with the MSG mandate to liberate Melanesians from Colonialism with New Caledonia being the only country to be liberated from France.

Despite the differences, MSG will still tap France’s expertise in deep sea mining for its economic potential and benefits.

As France is routed to the Pacific Islands Forum through its territory, France will be under an obligation to lend support to the revised Biketawa Declaration, which came into effect in 2000 following the coups in Fiji and Solomon Islands.

Fiji has asked for the Biketawa Declaration to be revised and it has support among many members of the Pacific Islands Forum.

France will play a greater role in the geopolitics of the Pacific Islands and the South Pacific.

Countries such as the Cook Islands will also develop better coordination with France in diplomatic, social and political spheres.

Balaji Chandramohan is Indian Newslink Correspondent based in New Delhi. The above story has been sponsored by