This map shows the diplomatic network and the French military presence in the area, bearing in mind that France has 1.6 million inhabitants in the area.
Can France be a useful ally for the USA in the Indo-Pacific?
Leave aside that France still have a variety of "overseas departments" in he Indo-Pacific area. Leave aside that France was a colonial power in the region for nearly a century and thus retains various economic, diplomatic and cultural connections - not to mention national interests - in the region.
The bottom line is that France remains a global power with a global reach. Somewhat diminished to be sure compared to the pre-World War II era, but nonetheless still an important presence.
That said, how useful France could be as an ally to the USA depends in no small measure on how much Paris sees a confluence of interests the Indo-Pacific with Washington, DC. In that they do have some interests in common, but their are divergences.
The best example, for example, being Ukraine/Taiwan. One need only look at a map to see that France has far more immediate interests in Ukraine than it does in the Indo-Pacific. Thus France may be inclined to give China a wider margin for error, so to speak, than the USA would.
That all said, international affairs are about national interests and the USA and France do have some in common. Certainly at a global scale. All one need to is describe the scenario to see where and when those interests might converge and when they migh diverge.
A French specialist explains that France's problem lies beyond its extremely limited military resources, i. e. our presence is reduced to just a few thousand soldiers. Above all, this specialist believes that France's strategy is unclear, because we don't know what objectives France is pursuing. For example, he explains that France wants to present itself as a "balancing" power, but he thinks that's ridiculous, because we don't have the means to do that.
And as you said, the USA has a more direct interest in the region.
But I agree with you that France, despite everything, can be a useful ally for the USA, because our countries have an interest in Asia remaining an accessible market and not being dominated by a single power, and because we have a military presence that could be useful in the event of conflict, even if it's limited. Moreover, Macron made the mistake of saying that we wouldn't want to follow the United States blindly in the event of a conflict with Taiwan.
We have seen how good the French were at war in both world wars. When our security is at stake, I prefer to rely on our own forces. The French in this situation would be a dead weight. They will surrender before they are defeated.
@BaronReagan That is a bit unfair. France absorbed huge casualties in World War I that the USA has never approached in any war. They also fought alongside the USA in the Korean War and have proved effective in various actions in Africa.
You are dealing in stereotypes that were mostly inferred from France's defeat in World War II. As for France's defeat in Vietnam, it need not be pointed out that the USA was similarly defeated in due course.
The truth is that the quality and technological sophistication of the French armed forces is quite high. France's main weakness being that, as with much of Europe, its' population is aging and is therefore shrinking both the pool of manpower available to serve in the armed forces as well as the tax base necessary to sustain French defense spending.
However, even there, the USA is following the same course. Our population is similarly aging and if demographics holds, will continue to do so.
Bottom line, if the USA relies only on itself absent the diplomatic, and in extremis military, support of any allies, we will in due course exhaust ourselves. You need only look at the current state of affairs in the US military as well as our disadvantages position vis-a-vis Russia, China, Iran and North Korea to see what the future holds.
@BaronReagan. China is the problem and the current goal is to dissuade them from attempting a Ukraine style solution. It is quite advantageous for the US not to be acting alone; there is a moral force with allies. Together with naval bases that is probably the major contribution of allies at this point.
Doubtless additional aircraft carriers and subs never go miss if there is shooting but lets hope it doesn't get to that.
Undoubtedly France can be a very significant and useful ally in the Indo Pacific. Most particular in naval assets and naval bases with the caveat that I have never even played World of Warships and my armchair admiral skills might be lacking.
A key strategic choke point are the Malacca Straits which is part of the reason for the belt and road - to bypass that choke point. Most of China's oil passes through the Malacca Straits and it has about 3 months reserves last I heard.
If China were to be adventuresome militarily it would be vulnerable to a blockade of the Malacca Straits. From the yellow section (Madagascar), French naval forces would be well placed to interdict closer to Middle East. If China uses Sri Lanka's port (which they won in a B&R funding raffle) the yellow section looks handy.
France participates in freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea which I am sure Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines appreciate as well as Taiwan and the US. I can't read the map well enough to make out the notations in this area.
In the deep blue area, the Solomons has become a concern and again France seems to be strategically placed.
Of course, what the world wants is for China not to be adventuresome. It does seem France is well placed to help in dissuading China from disruptive activities.
Julie, could you please post a link to this map? I would love to examine it in detail but when I expand it becomes too fuzzy.
I think the French military is often underrated by Americans, due to lingering images from WWII and Vietnam but truth is they are a potent force and particularly in their naval strength. They have shown an ability to respond quickly and resolutely in several regional flare ups in Africa, willingly and eagerly supports the US in the GWOT, and are the only other nation in the world with nuclear powers aircraft carriers, as testament to their commitment to a truly capable naval power projection ability. So long as French & US interests align and the political powers that be have support I think France will be a powerful ally when China finally goes hot.
the only way in which they could do any "better" would be by starting another world wide war... destroy a lot in the process and then taking over, again
There's no Canada like French Canada. It's the best Canada in the land. The other Canada is hardly Canada. If you lived here a day, you'll understand.
There's no Canada like French Canada. It's the best Canada in the land. And the other Canada is a bullshit Canada. If you lived here a day, you'll understand. I think you'd understand. You understand.
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