France, Japan plan drills

on January 15, 2019

France and Japan are looking to hold bilateral military exercises in the Indo-Pacific.

France, Japan Look to Increase Indo-Pacific Maritime Cooperation

In recent years, across both the administrations of French President François Hollande and now Emmanuel Macron, France has sought to deepen its footprint in the Indo-Pacific region. Last week, in another marker of Paris’ sustained interest in this region, the foreign and defense ministers of France and Japan met in Brest, France, for their fifth “two-plus-two” round of defense and security talks.

The talks took place between Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Defense Minister Florence Parly. At the conclusion of the talks, the two sides released a lengthy joint statement underlining joint areas of concern in the region and around the world.

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Source: thediplomat.com