SYDNEY/PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday referred to as for the creation of a new strategic alliance among France, India and Australia to respond to demanding situations in the Asia-Pacific region and the growing assertiveness of China.
On the second day of a visit to Australia, the place he hopes to cement defence ties following the 2016 signing of a $38 billion megadeal to supply submarines to the Australian army, Macron stated the like-minded democracies will have to forge closer ties.
"We're not naive: if we want to be seen and respected by China as an equal partner, we must organise ourselves," Macron stated in a speech at an Australian naval base.
Macron visited China in January, the place he warned Beijing that its new "Silk Road" initiative will have to no longer be "one-way".
He then flew to India in March, the place he dedicated to toughen a defence partnership that has already observed New Delhi purchase French warplanes in 2016.
"This new Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis is absolutely key for the region and our joint objectives in the Indian-Pacific region," Macron stated.
His visit to Australia, only the second through a French president, comes amid heightened tensions in the Pacific, the place France has a large number of pursuits.
France has island territories spanning the Indo-Pacific: Reunion and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, and Noumea, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia in the Pacific.
Australia and New Zealand have each one by one warned that China is looking for to exert affect in the Pacific thru its world assist programme, an allegation Beijing denies.
On the second day of a visit to Australia, the place he hopes to cement defence ties following the 2016 signing of a $38 billion megadeal to supply submarines to the Australian army, Macron stated the like-minded democracies will have to forge closer ties.
"We're not naive: if we want to be seen and respected by China as an equal partner, we must organise ourselves," Macron stated in a speech at an Australian naval base.
Macron visited China in January, the place he warned Beijing that its new "Silk Road" initiative will have to no longer be "one-way".
He then flew to India in March, the place he dedicated to toughen a defence partnership that has already observed New Delhi purchase French warplanes in 2016.
"This new Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis is absolutely key for the region and our joint objectives in the Indian-Pacific region," Macron stated.
His visit to Australia, only the second through a French president, comes amid heightened tensions in the Pacific, the place France has a large number of pursuits.
France has island territories spanning the Indo-Pacific: Reunion and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, and Noumea, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia in the Pacific.
Australia and New Zealand have each one by one warned that China is looking for to exert affect in the Pacific thru its world assist programme, an allegation Beijing denies.
Macron wants strategic Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis amid Pacific tension
![Macron wants strategic Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis amid Pacific tension]()
Reviewed by Kailash
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May 03, 2018
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