Mr Marvin Girelli1
1University Of French Polynesia, Faaa, France
Biography:
Marvin Girelli is a PhD candidate at the University of French Polynesia, specializing in French Indo-Pacific strategy and international relations. He was also an intern and researcher at the AP4D think tank in Canberra, where he contributes to policy analysis.
Abstract:
As France reorients its defence strategy toward the Indo-Pacific, Australia has emerged as a significant focus in French defence literature. Once a peripheral subject, Australia now features prominently in French strategic analyses, underscoring its value as a key partner in ensuring regional stability. This presentation will explore how Australia’s role has evolved within French defence discourse, illustrating the importance of this strategic relationship within France’s Indo-Pacific policy.
Despite increasing cooperation, the France-Australia relation is not without its challenges. Politically, tensions have arisen in 2021 with AUKUS and in 2024 with the crisis in New Caledonia. Yet, despite these diplomatic hurdles, military collaboration between the two nations remains strong. Joint training exercises, coordinated maritime patrols, and shared strategic objectives reveal a stable military relationship that contrasts with the often-complicated political dynamics. This duality of strong military alignment and challenging diplomatic relations highlights a unique aspect of France’s strategic engagement with Australia.
This presentation will focus on three main points: first, an overview of how recent French defence literature positions Australia within the Indo-Pacific; second, the specific areas of military cooperation that drive bilateral alignment, from maritime security to cyber initiatives; and third, the broader implications of France’s relationship with Australia as a model for strategic partnerships in the region. This presentation aims to understand Australia’s role in French defence thinking and the ways in which this partnership can inform broader Indo-Pacific strategies.