France’s Minister of Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin, opened the Shangri‑La Dialogue on 30 May 2026 in Singapore, stressing maritime security as essential for freedom of navigation and global stability. She noted President Macron’s intervention a year earlier and warned that the Russian war in Ukraine reverberates in Asia and Africa, especially the Strait of Oman. France controls the world’s second‑largest exclusive economic zone, deploys over 8,000 troops, and leads an Indo‑Pacific strategy to support sovereign states and protect commerce through operations such as Aspides. The country heads a 40‑state coalition around the Strait of Hormuz, promotes rights‑based navigation, and counters Russian “dark fleet” activity with tighter port controls, surveillance, and intelligence sharing. It addresses climate‑driven maritime risks. Macron highlighted the Pegasus 2026 mission and France’s military programming law to double the defense budget and launch a nuclear aircraft carrier, reaffirming France’s commitment to maritime freedom and sovereign respect.
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