Are France’s indo-pacific ambitions coming unstuck?
About this episode
The episode discusses the challenges faced by France in New Caledonia and the implications for its Indo-Pacific strategy and upcoming elections.
The government of Emmanuel Macron is struggling to deal with ongoing tension and resentment in France’s external territory, New Caledonia. The latest diplomatic and legislative efforts to determine the archipelago’s future have failed, and recent local elections have only cemented the stalemate between pro-independence supporters and those New Caledonians who want to remain a part of France. We explore what that means for the people of New Caledonia; France’s historic presence in the Pacific; President Macron’s grand Indo-pacific strategy; and for the 2027 French presidential elections. Guests: Dr Denise Fisher – Visiting Fellow, Centre for European Studies, Australian National University and former Australian Consul General in Noumea Cade Winter – Researcher, Yale Review of International Studies, Yale University Dr Frederic Grare – Senior Research Fellow, National Security College, Australian National University Nic Maclellan -Correspondent, Islands Pacific Magazine and Pacific Affairs Correspondent, Inside Story
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