Pact Sees Australia, France Sure up Western Pacific Defence Alliance

‘The Indo-Pacific is a top priority for France.’

(L to R) Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, French Foreign and European Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna, and French Armies Minister Sebastien Lecornu attend a press conference after a joint meeting at Quai dOrsay in Paris, on Jan. 30, 2023. Stephane De Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images

France’s military ambition to strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific has seen Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna meet with her Australian counterpart Penny Wong to hammer out an agreement of cooperation.

Australian service personnel will receive increased access to French Defence facilities and be included in complex military drills in the Western Pacific.