President Emmanuel Macron's visits to Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea on July 27 and 28 are intended to give substance to France's strategic plans for the region, despite

resource constraints. The visits are considered "historic" by Paris. During the two-day period, President Macron is scheduled to visit Vanuatu, which gained independence from the Anglo-French condominium in 1980, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea on July 28. This marks the first visit by a French head of state to the region's heavyweight, with a population of 17 million. The objective is to reinforce commitment to neighboring French overseas territories and to establish ambitious goals for development aid, humanitarian support, and the promotion of the French-speaking world, according to the French government.

The significance of these visits lies in the realization of France's long-discussed "Indo-Pacific strategy." Despite the rhetoric, concrete indications of France's commitment have been scarce or even unseen, as noted by various sources, including New Caledonian economic circles and foreign diplomats. Island states' voices hold weight at the UN. French Ambassador to Port-Vila, Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer, highlighted that non-aligned Vanuatu had "voted to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, demand its immediate withdrawal, and denounce Russian attacks on civilians."

Discover more Article reserved for our subscribers 'If France wants to succeed in the Indo-Pacific, it has to rely on the power of initiatives and solutions' France possesses considerable assets in the region, including a maritime exclusive economic zone covering 9 million square kilometers, three French territories (New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, Polynesia), and regional allies.

Mathieu Droin, Research Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), elaborated that France is actively strengthening its regional influence by engaging with the Pacific Islands Forum, joining the South Pacific Defense Ministers Club, deploying military resources, and advocating for increased European Union involvement in the region. However, the available resources are still limited. "France lags behind other influential powers in the region," noted the analyst. Prior to this occasion, no foreign minister of the Fifth Republic had ever visited a Pacific island state. Photo by Vardion, Wikimedia commons.