France and Australia: realising our potential as like-minded strategic partners

This paper examines the potential for Australia and France to develop closer defence engagement. It contends that both have similar strategic interests, equally focused on regional stability and the rule of law, and that they have similar policy positions for how to achieve these goals. It also asserts that Australia and France are both significant actors, with a similar expeditionary mindset about the globalisation of security imperatives, and with similar political and military cultures with regards to risk.

The paper argues that increased engagement with France would directly benefit Australia's strategic interests, both regionally and as fellow contributors to a rules-based global order. It concludes that Australia should further advance defence and diplomatic engagement with France on security issues, aiming to enhance Australia's ability to influence events while also usefully widening the circle of like-minded partners, as well as maintaining military interoperability for an uncertain future.

This paper was also published in the Indo-Pacific Strategic Digest series.

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