Under the Marcos Jr. administration, the Philippines has shifted its focus from internal to external security in response to the increasing aggression in the West Philippine Sea. Central to this transformation is the implementation of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the adoption of key legislation such as the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act. 

In this context, strengthening partnerships with like-minded nations on maritime security has become a critical strategy. As President Marcos Jr. highlighted in his State of the Nation Address, fostering partnerships with states that share similar interests is a cornerstone of enhancing the country’s defense posture. To date, the Philippines has formalized over 30 engagements with international defense and security partners, conducting a series of multilateral maritime exercises to address shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.  

Among these like-minded partners is France, a key player in the Indo-Pacific region through its overseas territories, which has shown its solidarity with the Philippines. France’s participation in the 39th Balikatan Exercises and Pegase 24, as well as its commitment to providing 40 patrol vessels and logistical support to the Philippine Coast Guard, underscores its support in enhancing the Philippines’ maritime security and safety capabilities.  

Defense is nevertheless only one aspect of maritime security, which also relies on the the safety of maritime transportation and the modernization of critical infrastructures. In a region where maritime trade is vital to economic prosperity, ensuring safe and efficient movement of goods and people across the seas is paramount. In this light, both nations are renewing commitments to a sustainable and progressive maritime industry, as exemplified by the recent renewal of the Memorandum of Agreement with the Maritime Industry Authority. 

The French Embassy in the Philippines, in partnership with Stratbase Institute, organized a hybrid event titled “Exploring Maritime Cooperation: The Role of International Partnerships on Maritime Security,” to be held on January 23, 2025 (Thursday), from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (PHT) at the Legaspi 2 Ballroom, Makati Diamond Hotel, Makati City. 

This second installment of the Blue Talks series explored the various dimensions of maritime security to identify areas where cooperation between the Philippines and France could be most valuable. This would likewise provide an overview of the current international partnerships enhancing the Philippines’ capacities in the maritime sector and shed light on the remaining challenges while taking stock of what is already covered. The program featured the presentation of a joint policy brief, co-authored by Stratbase Institute and the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), which focused on the challenges and opportunities in maritime cooperation between the two nations. The event brought together key stakeholders from the government, diplomatic community, academia, and think tanks to discuss the future of maritime security cooperation, with a particular focus on issues such as maritime sovereignty, navigation safety, and port modernization.