FRANCE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN: A GEOPOLITICAL PERSPECTIVE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR AFRICA

The document analyzes France's strategic use of its territories, military presence, and diplomatic ties to maintain influence in the Indian Ocean Region. It highlights the tension between established powers like France and emerging economies such as China, India, and South Africa, particularly regarding the 'Blue Economy' and maritime security.

• France maintains a significant geopolitical presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) through its sovereign territories, specifically Reunion and Mayotte, which are officially French departments and provinces. This presence allows France to secure an international position on principal maritime lines and preserve its sphere of influence.
• A primary strategic driver for France's presence in the IOR is the security of energy corridors. The region is critical for the maritime route between China and Europe, which is essential for importing crude oil to meet Europe's energy needs.
• France leverages its territories to claim extensive maritime rights. Its presence in the IOR covers approximately 2.8 million km2, contributing to 20% of France's global Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which totals about 11 million km2.
• France maintains a military infrastructure in the IOR to combat piracy and monitor illegal fishing. This includes the naval base of Pointe des Galets on Reunion, a Foreign Legion reaction force on Mayotte, and military bases in Djibouti and Abu Dhabi.
• France is involved in several territorial disputes over the 'Scattered Islands' (Bassas da India, Europa, Juan de Nova, Glorieuses, and Tromelin). These islands are contested by Mauritius, Madagascar, and the Comoros, as sovereignty over them extends the EEZ by up to 640,000 km2.
• France faces increasing competition from emerging powers, specifically China and India, who are expanding their diplomatic and economic influence in the IOR. This competition drives France to seek stronger strategic partnerships with African coastal states, including South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
• France seeks to integrate more deeply into regional governance frameworks. While it is a 'dialogue partner' of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and a member of the Indian Ocean Commission, it has repeatedly sought full membership in IORA via Reunion's status.

APA

Maupin, A. (2017). FRANCE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN: A GEOPOLITICAL PERSPECTIVE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR AFRICA. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Policy-Insights-42.pdf

Chicago

Maupin, Agathe. FRANCE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN: A GEOPOLITICAL PERSPECTIVE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR AFRICA. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2017. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Policy-Insights-42.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Maupin |first1=Agathe |title=FRANCE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN: A GEOPOLITICAL PERSPECTIVE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR AFRICA |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=March 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Policy-Insights-42.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{maupin2017france, author = {Maupin, Agathe}, title = {{FRANCE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN: A GEOPOLITICAL PERSPECTIVE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR AFRICA}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Policy-Insights-42.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }