Paris (AFP)
Emmanuel Macron on Monday promised to strengthen cooperation between France and the States of Oceania to secure territorial waters, in particular against illegal fishing, and to mitigate the impact of climate change in the Pacific.
The Head of State notably announced the creation of "a coastguard network for the South Pacific" by participating, for 2 hours and 30 minutes, in the fifth France-Oceania summit by videoconference, six days before his trip to French Polynesia.
About fifteen leaders, including eight heads of state and government - the Australian Scott Morrisson and those of the Cook Islands, New Zealand, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea or Vanuatu - took part in this summit. , the last of which was held in 2015 and the next is scheduled for 2024.
The coastguard network will be launched to "better cope with the logic of predation of which we are collectively victims" and to "protect the maritime areas", which are "the first of the riches" of the South Pacific States, Emmanuel indicated. Macron, citing the "determining role" played by the French forces stationed in New Caledonia and Polynesia.
It is above all a question of combating illegal fishing carried out by foreign vessels increasingly present in the Pacific.
During his international travels, Emmanuel Macron has often insisted on the need for France to participate - thanks to its vast maritime areas and overseas territories - in an Indo-Pacific axis to face maritime and military pressure. growing from China.
The other priority discussed at the summit was the climate while the Pacific States are "low emitters" of greenhouse gases while being "the first victims of the consequences of global warming", especially with the rising waters, according to Emmanuel Macron.
France will thus increase its funding for programs to protect ecosystems, such as the Kiwa initiative (increased to 5 million euros), and coral reefs (to 3 million).
It will also make financial efforts to improve "connectivity" in this immense region in order to strengthen the "integration" of its overseas territories.
© 2021 AFP