France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle and accompanying warships from the French Navy took an operational break in the Philippines over the weekend of February 21-23, 2025.
This was the Charles de Gaulle’s first visit to the country in over four decades. In a show of unity and support, the French Navy held anti-submarine warfare drills and aerial combat training with Philippine forces, the first ever between the two countries.
⚓️🇫🇷 Historic first! The French Carrier Strike Group around Charles de Gaulle has arrived in the Philippines for an unprecedented stopover, reinforcing an enhanced maritime and defense cooperation between our two countries. Bienvenue aux 🇵🇭 ! Maligayang pagdating ! #CLEMENCEAU25 pic.twitter.com/Sx7Z7GH5OP
— France in the PH 🇫🇷🇵🇭 (@FrenchEmbassyPH) February 23, 2025
IN PHOTOS | PH Navy Chief visits Aircraft Carrier Charles De Gaulle with French Ambassador
Full: https://t.co/wP4fxKO722#ProtectingtheSeasSecuringOurFuture#ModernandMultiCapablePHNavy#OneAFPOnePhilippines#StrongAFPStrongPhilippines pic.twitter.com/KovYfyKuF4
— Philippine Navy (@Philippine_Navy) February 22, 2025
French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel and high-ranking officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) embarked aboard the Charles de Gaulle for an official visit and inspection.
“We aim to deepen our cooperation with regional partners with whom we share common values such as upholding international law and ensuring freedom of navigation in shared maritime spaces,” Fontanel told local media who were invited to the event.
According to the French Embassy in Manila, the arrival of the Charles de Gaulle in the Philippines was part of the framework of the Letter of Intent (LOI) signed by the two countries in December 2023, which aims to enhance Philippine and French military cooperation.
The Charles de Gaulle, and the rest of the French naval fleet, are part of the CLEMENCEAU 25 carrier strike group, a mission that will last five months with the aim of strengthening France’s diplomatic ties with countries and states in the Asia-Pacific region.
