Naval drills are defining new relationships from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Gulf of Oman and beyond. France is playing a leading role, according to new reports. A recent drill by the Israeli navy called "Noble Dina" included France and Cyprus for the first time last week. It usually includes Israel and Greece. These types of drills are important and symbolic.
They also appear to link countries like France, India and Greece with a group of countries that have shared interests. These include the UAE, India, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, France, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel. A wider strategic pattern also links some of these countries to the Quad nations; Japan, Australia, the US and India.
France appears to be increasing its role in these drills. It is partnering with India and the UAE in an exercise in late April, according to the Hindustan Times. This will take place in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman in late April. According to that report, the “UAE will be joining India and France for the first time in a trilateral naval exercise in the strategically important Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman under the Varuna banner.”
Varuna is a French-India exercise usually. The UAE has grown closer to India in recent years.
Why does this matter? India recently took part in the first virtual Quad summit with the US, Australia and Japan. It comes a decade-and-a-half after these four countries entered into this limited strategic relationship. Much more can be done and it is clear that France and other states like the UAE want to do more with some of these countries.
India’s Prime Minister, who also has a close relationship with Israel’s Prime Minister, praised the Quad meeting on Friday. “Reiterated India’s commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific in line with our vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region),” he wrote.
Naval exercises that may unite France, the UAE, the US, Japan and Australia could provide a major message of strategic partnering linking an immense amount of ocean, from Australia to France, some 12,000km.
1 comment:
Macron thinks he's another de Gaulle but he and his country plucked from the EU just liked the third republic plucked in 1940.
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