Tactical Frog
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French President Emmanuel Macron wants Australia and France to underpin a "new Indo-Pacific axis" committed to security, the free market and the rule of law to preserve the regional balance of power in the face of China's rise.
Mr Macron also flagged a need to deepen dialogue between Australia, France and India as three key Indian Ocean powers, and expressed confidence domestic French resistance to free trade agreements would not derail a pact between Australia and the European Union.
Mr Macron's whirlwind visit to Sydney has delivered a significant boost to ties between Australia and France, with new agreements on co-operation on defence, cybersecurity, education, innovation and climate change.
At a press conference with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Macron said France with its territories New Caledonia and French Polynesia in the South Pacific and Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean had a shared goal with Australia be "at the heart of a new Indo-Pacific axis".
"I would very much like France, given it is the last European member of the EU being present in the Pacific after the Brexit ... to be at the heart of this project," he said.
"Our joint responsibility is to build this strong Indo-Pacific axis both to protect our economic interests as well as our security interests. This region is crucial for the stability of the world."
While Beijing's growing influence is causing regional anxiety, Mr Macron maintained greater co-operation with Australia should not be construed as anti-Chinese.
"I think China's rise is very good news for everybody," he said.
"Now what's important is to preserve the rules-based development in the region, and to preserve the necessary balances in the region.
"It's important with this new context not to have any hegemony in the region."
Mr Macron made the case for Australia, France and India to play a "central role" in ensuring regional peace and prosperity.
"This partnership is a very important way to progress, because altogether with India and all the partners, this not an initiative against or in reaction to [China]," he said.
"That's a positive initiative to say 'we have something in common'. We do want to favour free movement in the Indo-Pacific region. We do want to preserve our common sovereignty."
Mr Macron's comments are timely as New Delhi recently knocked back Australia's request to join annual trilateral naval exercises next month between India, Japan and the US despite efforts to revitalise the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between the four countries.
Asked about a free trade agreement between Australia and the EU, Mr Macron suggested the protectionist concerns of France's powerful farm lobby had been overcome, paving the way for talks to start soon.
"We are not wasting any time," he said.
Mr Macron said the Pacific was a "treasure" in terms of biodiversity and Australia and France would work together on several projects to stop "climate disruption", including studying coral reef resilience and solar energy training programs for island nations.
Building on the $50 billion submarine contract, the two leaders also highlighted greater defence cooperation, including Australian warships joining the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier group for patrols and the signing of a logistics agreement to greater interoperability between the two militaries.
The two countries will also work more closely on cyber security including sharing intelligence and responding to attacks.
Mr Macron also flagged a need to deepen dialogue between Australia, France and India as three key Indian Ocean powers, and expressed confidence domestic French resistance to free trade agreements would not derail a pact between Australia and the European Union.
Mr Macron's whirlwind visit to Sydney has delivered a significant boost to ties between Australia and France, with new agreements on co-operation on defence, cybersecurity, education, innovation and climate change.
At a press conference with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Macron said France with its territories New Caledonia and French Polynesia in the South Pacific and Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean had a shared goal with Australia be "at the heart of a new Indo-Pacific axis".
"I would very much like France, given it is the last European member of the EU being present in the Pacific after the Brexit ... to be at the heart of this project," he said.
"Our joint responsibility is to build this strong Indo-Pacific axis both to protect our economic interests as well as our security interests. This region is crucial for the stability of the world."
While Beijing's growing influence is causing regional anxiety, Mr Macron maintained greater co-operation with Australia should not be construed as anti-Chinese.
"I think China's rise is very good news for everybody," he said.
"Now what's important is to preserve the rules-based development in the region, and to preserve the necessary balances in the region.
"It's important with this new context not to have any hegemony in the region."
Mr Macron made the case for Australia, France and India to play a "central role" in ensuring regional peace and prosperity.
"This partnership is a very important way to progress, because altogether with India and all the partners, this not an initiative against or in reaction to [China]," he said.
"That's a positive initiative to say 'we have something in common'. We do want to favour free movement in the Indo-Pacific region. We do want to preserve our common sovereignty."
Mr Macron's comments are timely as New Delhi recently knocked back Australia's request to join annual trilateral naval exercises next month between India, Japan and the US despite efforts to revitalise the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between the four countries.
Asked about a free trade agreement between Australia and the EU, Mr Macron suggested the protectionist concerns of France's powerful farm lobby had been overcome, paving the way for talks to start soon.
"We are not wasting any time," he said.
Mr Macron said the Pacific was a "treasure" in terms of biodiversity and Australia and France would work together on several projects to stop "climate disruption", including studying coral reef resilience and solar energy training programs for island nations.
Building on the $50 billion submarine contract, the two leaders also highlighted greater defence cooperation, including Australian warships joining the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier group for patrols and the signing of a logistics agreement to greater interoperability between the two militaries.
The two countries will also work more closely on cyber security including sharing intelligence and responding to attacks.
