Latest news with #Clemenceau25
Morocco World
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco Strengthens Naval Ties with France, Portugal through Joint Mediterranean Drills
Rabat – The Royal Moroccan Navy is taking part in a multinational naval exercise off the French coast, working alongside French and Portuguese forces as part of the Clemenceau 25 mission. This collaboration shows the growing coordination between the three countries, particularly in maritime security and crisis response in the Mediterranean. French military officials described the operation as a platform for exchanging expertise and building a collective approach to regional challenges. 'The exercises serve both stability and security across the Mediterranean,' the French General Staff shared in a statement on X. Morocco's participation follows a steady rhythm of naval cooperation, especially with France. In October, the Royal Moroccan Navy hosted its annual joint exercise Chebec with the French Navy. Held regularly since 1994, the drill remains a key moment for reinforcing operational ties between the two forces. The Royal Moroccan Navy also remains active in the Strait of Gibraltar. Just last week, the frigate Tariq ibn Ziad, along with the patrol vessels Hassan II and Lieutenant Colonel Al-Rahmani, passed through the Strait en route to the Mediterranean. Moreover, in recent months, Morocco and France have moved through successive waves of diplomatic momentum, with efforts to strengthen their bilateral ties gaining renewed visibility. High-level visits by ambassadors and senior officials have become more frequent in setting the tone for a more dynamic relationship. From cultural collaboration and academic exchanges to partnerships in agriculture, renewable energy, and digital innovation, Morocco and France are opening new avenues of cooperation. Tags: military drillmilitary navyMorocco france tiesmorocco royal navy
Ya Biladi
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Royal Moroccan Navy engages in strategic naval exercises with France and Portugal
The Royal Moroccan Navy is currently participating in a naval exercise in France alongside its Portuguese and French counterparts, as part of the Clemenceau 25 mission. These joint maneuvers reflect «close military cooperation» between the three nations. The exercises also enable «the exchange of expertise and a collective response to crises, contributing to stability and security in the Mediterranean», according to the French Army's General Staff on the platform X. As a reminder, the Royal Moroccan Navy held the Chebec naval exercise with the French Navy from October 7 to 13. This annual event, which began in 1994, continues to strengthen ties between the two navies. The Royal Moroccan Navy is also active in the waters of Gibraltar. Last week, the ship Tariq ibn Ziad and the two offshore patrol vessels Hassan II and Lieutenant Colonel Al-Rahmani crossed the Strait en route to the Mediterranean.
Khaleej Times
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
French nuclear-powered carrier makes first visit to Philippines
Rising tensions in the South China Sea have made freedom of navigation exercises "even more important", France's ambassador to the Philippines said on Sunday, as the nuclear-powered Charles De Gaulle made its first port visit to the country. The aircraft carrier strike group, which includes a trio of destroyers, joined the Philippine Navy on Friday for drills in the disputed waterway that Manila said were aimed at enhancing "interoperability, communication, and defense capabilities". The visit to Subic Bay north of Manila comes as the Philippines looks to strengthen relations with like-minded countries in the face of increasingly tense confrontations with China over reefs and waters in the sea. "Knowing the rise of tensions, it's even more important to uphold international law and the freedom of navigation, be it at sea or in the air," Ambassador Marie Fontanel said on the deck of the carrier. She added that France stood with countries, like the Philippines, that shared those values. France, which has nearly two million citizens in its Pacific territories, has been seeking to reassert its importance in the region, where China and the United States are battling for influence. The French Navy's months-long operation Clemenceau 25, which included exercises with the United States and Japan in the Philippine Sea last week, was aimed at projecting power "in strategic zones where regional tensions are growing and the law of the sea is challenged by force", it said in a statement. France is one of a handful of European countries that regularly conduct freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea. China claims most of the sea including waters close to the shores of the Philippines and several other neighbours, ignoring an international tribunal ruling that its claims are without legal basis. The Philippines and France have also been discussing a visiting forces agreement that would allow them to deploy troops on each other's territory. Manila already has similar pacts with the United States and Australia. Japan is expected to ratify its own visiting forces deal soon, while Canada and New Zealand are also in negotiations to join that group. The Philippines said in November that its coast guard would acquire 40 fast patrol craft from France, with plans to deploy some of them in disputed areas of the South China Sea. Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan at the time called the deal the "largest so far single purchase" in Manila's ongoing effort to modernise its coast guard, with deliveries set to start in four years. The 25.8 billion pesos (about $440 million) deal is to be funded by development aid from the French government.
Japan Times
18-02-2025
- General
- Japan Times
French carrier group chief draws lessons from first Pacific deployment in 60 years
France's first deployment of a carrier strike group (CSG) to the Indo-Pacific in 60 years has allowed its navy to not only deepen its operational understanding of the complex region but also to learn from and boost interoperability with partner nations, the commander of the Charles De Gaulle CSG told The Japan Times. 'You have to deploy to understand an area,' Rear Adm. Jacques Mallard said in an interview when asked about the lessons learned from the service's ongoing Clemenceau 25 mission. The CSG on Tuesday concluded the French Navy's first-ever joint carrier maneuvers with the United States and Japan in the Philippine Sea. Those maneuvers, which also involved the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and the JS Kaga helicopter carrier, were part of the Pacific Steller drills.
