The Stratbase Institute and the Embassy of France in the Philippines held the sixth installment of “Blue Nations: France and the Philippines, Partners for the Oceans” initiative. Entitled “Advancing High Seas Governance: Opportunities for Regional Cooperation on BBNJ Agreement Implementation,” the conference gathered at the Manila Polo Club marine scientists, legal experts, policymakers, and civil society representatives to discuss the concrete implications of the BBNJ Agreement’s three substantive pillars for the Philippines, practical pathways for regional cooperation with France, and how the Philippines can exercise leadership through its 2026 ASEAN Chairship to advance coordinated regional engagement with the Agreement.  

In his remarks, Stratbase Institute President Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit framed the conference around two defining milestones of 2026 for the Philippines as a maritime nation: the 10th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Award and the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement. He emphasized that, taken together, these two milestones underscore a clear message: the future of ocean governance must be rooted in international law, informed by science, and reinforced through partnerships among like-minded states.  

In her remarks, French Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Marie Fontanel described the sixth edition of the Blue Talks series as both a culmination and a beginning: closing a two-year journey launched on the road to the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, while opening a new chapter centered on the regional implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. She underscored the shared priorities of France and the Philippines, from upholding a rules-based international order and adapting to climate change to protecting marine ecosystems, decarbonizing maritime transport, and advancing a blue economy grounded in environmental responsibility.  

Stratbase remains committed to promoting a whole-of-society cooperation in building a more secure, sustainable, and rules-based maritime future.