A little over three years since French President Emmanuel Macron accused then Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying about a multi-billion submarine deal, the second-largest ship in the French navy has docked in Darwin. It signifies a turning of the page between the two countries and an increased mutual focus on the Indo-Pacific region.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00After a three month voyage around the world, the FS Jacques Chevalier will call Australia
00:07home, for now.
00:09The French supply ship docked at HMAS Kunawara yesterday, hosting a number of distinguished
00:14local guests.
00:15This is an amazing new ship, with a lot of technology.
00:20The vessel is one of the newest additions to the French Navy, commissioned in 2023.
00:25It brings a crew of sailors, medics and mechanics, with enough food for a six month voyage.
00:30With a displacement of more than 30,000 tonnes, Jacques Chevalier is the second largest vessel
00:35in the French fleet.
00:37The largest, aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, is currently in the Indo-Pacific with the
00:42Australian Navy.
00:43The French and Australian navies say the recent military exercises with the US, Australia
00:48and other allies such as India and Indonesia are the key to a secure maritime region.
00:53The opportunity to strengthen and deepen our relationships with our friends, allies
00:59and partners is always beneficial to those that value a free and open world order.
01:05The importance of the Northern Territory to such operations was not understated.
01:09Darwin, being a gateway between the Indian and Pacific Ocean, is the perfect example
01:15of the strategic, pivotal role that Australia plays in the region.
01:19The visit confirms a new chapter in French-Australian military relations, after the costly collapse
01:24of a submarine deal between Canberra and Paris in 2021.
01:29With that dispute now seemingly in the past, both nations have their eyes firmly set on
01:34the Indo-Pacific.