French admiral highlights importance of multilateralism in Indo-Pacific region

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sat, September 23, 2023 | 07:31

Foreign Affairs

French admiral highlights importance of multilateralism in Indo-Pacific region

Posted : 2023-03-30 08:18

Updated : 2023-03-30 15:56

Rear Adm. Geoffroy d'Andigne, French Joint Commander of the Asia-Pacific and the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia, speaks during an interview in Seoul, Monday. Newsis

By Kwon Mee-yoo

The joint commander of France's armed forces in Asia-Pacific welcomed South Korea's new Indo-Pacific strategy and highlighted the opportunity for stronger cooperation between Korea and France.

Rear Adm. Geoffroy d'Andigne, French joint commander of the Asia-Pacific zone and armed forces in French Polynesia, said South Korea plays a crucial role in maintaining security and peace in Northeast Asia and it has the potential to contribute significantly to global security.

"I want to highlight that the release of the Korean Indo-Pacific strategy demonstrates that Korea and France have a unique opportunity to strengthen their cooperation. My visit is in line with these strategic convergence," d'Andigne said during a forum on maritime cooperation between South Korea and France in the Indo-Pacific, co-hosted by the Korea Institute for Maritime Strategy and the Embassy of France in Seoul, Monday.

The admiral is visiting South Korea to observe the Ssangyong exercise, a maritime joint exercise conducted by South Korean and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps forces, as part of the two countries' spring joint drills.

"France supports the development of regional security and promotes multilateralism," d'Andigne said. "We also foster the expansion of mutual knowledge and information sharing. I believe that we need to exchange with partners on a regular basis to share our strategic visions in order to contribute to the stability of a region. This kind of a change helps to build trust and understanding thus contributing to the security of the region."

In 2018, France became the first European Union country to adopt its own national Indo-Pacific strategy. The Indo-Pacific region holds special importance for France as it has five overseas territories including New Caledonia and French Polynesia.

Participants to the forum on maritime cooperation between South Korea and France in the Indo-Pacific pose at a hotel in central Seoul, Monday. Front row fourth from left is Rear Adm. Geoffroy d'Andigne, French Joint Commander of the Asia-Pacific. Korea Times photo by Kwon Mee-yoo

"For France, the area is a geographical, human, strategic and economic reality due to its presence in both oceans ― Indian and Pacific... I would like to point out that France is the only sovereign EU country in the Indo-Pacific, also the European country that is the most engaged in the region," he said.

"The Indo-Pacific area concentrates many maritime issues. First of all, it has an array of importance when it comes to the transportation of global trade... The area is also at the heart of economic and maritime initiatives like BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) and RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership)."

D'Andigne also noted that the region has security issues such as nuclear proliferation and territorial waters disputes as well as human trafficking, piracy and terrorism.

"Faced with a multiplication of these challenges, it is important to reaffirm the importance of multilateralism," he said, noting that France and Korea have a common vision for the Indo-Pacific and share a convergence of strategic interests.

Rear Adm. Kim Kyung-cheol, commander of South Korea's Naval Force Analysis Test and Evaluation Group, noted that the ROK Navy and the ROK Fleet Command are responsible mainly for defending the country's territorial waters, especially against provocations from North Korea, but are also open for cooperation with other countries including France.

"There is a potential for engagement in the broader Indo-Pacific region," Kim said. "However, there have been no joint exercises between Korea, France and Japan as such drills can only be conducted with a clear shared goal. If we receive an offer for a joint exercise, we will consider it positively."

meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr