On April 9 and 10, the French Embassy in Australia and the Minderoo Foundation co-hosted the Indian Ocean Forum, an event promoting cooperation between the region’s various powers. An opportunity for French diplomacy to reaffirm its interest in sustainable and inclusive maritime governance, in preparation for the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), scheduled for June 2025 in Nice.
The Indian Ocean Forum drew to a close last Thursday with much to look forward to. For two days, political leaders, scientists, private players, philanthropists and representatives of civil society came together to try to weave together the directions the geographical zone wants to take in the run-up to major international events. More specifically, this initiative, inaugurated in Perth because of its openness to the Indian Ocean, is intended to prepare the region to influence global ocean policy, to be discussed at UNOC3 next June.
Issues such as the preservation and restoration of marine ecosystems, sustainable fishing, the fight against plastic pollution and climate resilience were mentioned.
A strategic commitment reaffirmed by France
France, as a riparian nation thanks to its overseas territories such as Reunion and Mayotte, was obviously in attendance. President Emmanuel Macron opened the discussions with a video message underlining the importance of regional cooperation in the face of climate and environmental challenges: “We need all forces – public and private, academic, entrepreneurial, philanthropic, scientific and governmental – to play a role in the future of our ocean“, he declared. “I would like to thank Australia for playing a decisive role as co-facilitator of this political declaration“.
The Minister Delegate in charge of Francophonie and International Partnerships, Mr. Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, also delivered a speech summarizing the main guidelines to be adopted in the future. Mr. Pierre-André Imbert, French Ambassador to Australia, Dr. Andrew Forrest, businessman and founder of the Australian charity Minderoo Foundation, as well as numerous political representatives, were also present.
France’s active participation in this forum bears witness to its determination to play a central role in the governance of the Indian Ocean. Beyond diplomacy, the enforcing country is also seeking to strengthen its military cooperation in the region, notably through joint naval exercises with India, such as the Varuna naval exercise, whose 23rd edition took place between March 19 and 22, 2025.
In the past, France had already been at the heart of negotiations for the planet and the oceans, as in 2022, at the UNOC2, organized in Lisbon, and the One Ocean Summit, in Brest, by supporting the proposal to protect 30% of the world’s maritime and land areas by 2030. In 2023, the United Nations Treaty on the High Seas, or BBNJ, was also adopted, with ratification by France.
Discussion about this post