24 Jul 2024 Rain in the Seine would be an Olympic-sized pain Neeraj Singh Manhas But the effort to clean up the famous waterway in Paris could hold international lessons.
11 Jul 2024 A surprising litmus test for New Caledonia’s independence parties Denise Fisher The French election saw New Caledonia’s independence parties attain an overall majority in the first territory-wide poll since the 2018–21 referendums.
2 Jul 2024 Pariah states and the Olympic Games Gabriela Bernal With the Paris Games only weeks away, the controversy around athletes from “rogue” countries is set to intensify.
26 Jun 2024 Hope for gold: The value in the Olympics Jenny Gordon An economic case is hard to make. Reputational risks abound. Yet hosts want the Games, and that’s no bad thing.
12 Jun 2024 France’s legislative elections and complications for New Caledonia Denise Fisher There is only hope, however vain, that this move may provide space for calm reassessment of positions.
14 May 2024 Violence erupts in New Caledonia as independence supporters oppose legislation in Paris Denise Fisher Macron’s plan has backfired. But there can be no sustainable solution without cooperation of all parties.
16 Apr 2024 New Caledonia: Uncertainty and division intensify as Paris imposes its will Denise Fisher Work is needed now to ensure history does not repeat.
11 Mar 2024 The India-France “pas de deux” in the Indo-Pacific Ramesh Thakur Friends in need are bonding together.
5 Mar 2024 A role for nuclear in Australia’s climate response? Stephen Grenville In the facts-lite political debate, the opportunities and comparative advantages of solar are being sidelined.
18 Dec 2023 Postcard from Mayotte David Brewster A French Indian Ocean territory that desperately wants to stay that way.
1 Dec 2023 France as a convening power in the Pacific: The Nouméa SPDMM Céline Pajon A little known regional dialogue offers France and other countries a chance to contribute to the “Pacific way”.
3 Oct 2023 New Caledonia: Independence leader wins French Senate seat over Macron favourite Denise Fisher An extraordinary result further complicates France’s hope of securing early agreement about the future.
10 Jul 2023 French fragmentation Mark Pierce Unpopular for peculiar reasons, Emmanuel Macron grapples with a parade of populists and a nation divided by grievance.
30 Jun 2023 How Australia can leverage France’s Indo-Pacific presence Hugh Piper , Eglantine Staunton A tumultuous couple of years in relations can settle to a new acceptance – seeing opportunities as well as risks.
19 Jun 2023 Uncertainty in New Caledonia Denise Fisher France is threatening to resolve key issues on New Caledonia’s future unilaterally if local parties cannot agree.
17 May 2023 Europe’s divisions over China could hamper G-7 unity Dominique Fraser If European capitals, Brussels, and Washington are not aligned, immediate economic interests will overshadow common, long-term goals.
13 Apr 2023 Taiwan: Far from lost in translation, Macron said exactly what he meant David Vallance The French President’s comments are the latest example of his consistent call for Europe to set its own path.
11 Apr 2023 France tightens the screws in New Caledonia Denise Fisher Pro-independence leaders believe time is on their side, but the French government sees little room for compromise.
2 Feb 2023 France-Australia: Salving the wounds of AUKUS Eglantine Staunton After the crisis over the subs deal, both countries stand to benefit from a normalisation of ties.
1 Feb 2023 Marles torpedoes French subs, but is yet to explain nuclear advantage Sam Roggeveen For such a high-stakes and expensive enterprise the public deserves to know not just what boats we’re getting, but why.
27 Jul 2022 France can help Albanese fix AUKUS Alan J. Kuperman Labor faces a dilemma over nuclear-powered subs and the non-proliferation regime. An old partner might offer an answer.
25 Jul 2022 France-Australia: Moving beyond AUKUS Eglantine Staunton A change of PM has certainly helped, and the latest Lowy Poll suggests no enduring damage has been done to relations.
25 Jul 2022 The China factor in France’s growing engagement in the “peaceful sea” Denghua Zhang , Eric Frécon A step-up by Paris in the Indo-Pacific is evidence that it aims for a pragmatic third path in the region.
30 May 2022 Australia can’t stay silent on decolonisation in the Pacific Nic Maclellan As Canberra and Paris repair ties, presenting France as a “Pacific country” would undermine regional independence.
9 May 2022 The time is right for Australia to forge stronger ties with Europe Mateo Szlapek-Sewillo A new world has created new opportunities in energy, security and diplomacy that Canberra should grab without delay.
1 Feb 2022 How to speak green: Europe’s new energy taxonomy Mateo Szlapek-Sewillo A stoush about sustainable energy criteria reveals tensions, anxieties – and increasing French influence.
8 Dec 2021 AUKUS debate “influenced France’s attitude towards New Caledonia” Nic Maclellan Local leaders – loyalists and independence advocates alike – believe the subs cancelation has coloured the French view.
8 Nov 2021 Sinking trust Sian Troath Sparing between Scott Morrison and Emmanuel Macron is about more than a broken deal but the manner it was conveyed.
19 Oct 2021 Europe’s time to find its superpower Emilian Kavalski , Nicholas Ross Smith AUKUS was the final reminder that European leaders need to make a break from reliance on US security on the continent.
15 Oct 2021 France-Australia: Welcome back, Your Excellency, urgent matters await Alexandre Dayant AUKUS was a blow to Australia’s French romance but the Pacific region needs the two regional powers to kiss and make up.
11 Oct 2021 Subs: Australia’s reputation overboard Richard Ogier In Europe, and not only in France, the image of Australia has suffered a direct hit.
24 Sep 2021 AUKUS: France’s strategic outcry Eglantine Staunton After the drama of recalled ambassadors in the wake of a new Indo-Pacific strategic deal, it’s time for dialogue.
21 Sep 2021 AUKUS and the CPTPP: It’s all about China Ian Hill Security deterrence is only one factor in the new and fast-moving geostrategic environment of the Indo-Pacific.
17 Sep 2021 Sunk! France cries outrage over snubbed subs John Sexton The French president is stung, the local media in uproar, and allies are caught in the storm.
2 Sep 2021 Europe and the South China Sea Loro Horta More warships in disputed waters may cause instability. But the presence of navies from afar sends a clear message, too.
25 Jun 2021 Macron’s right-wing gamble Lisa Louis The French president is betting on the far-right to boost his chances in the 2022 election.
21 Jun 2021 Believing Biden Daniel Woker The US President has persuaded European allies of his values-based policy. But will such faith carry home?
18 Jun 2021 New Caledonia’s third independence referendum, and the day after Alexandre Dayant With the next – and final – ballot set for December, consequences of a Yes or No choice are becoming clear.
26 May 2021 New Caledonia eyes final vote on independence Denise Fisher France wants to get serious about the future. But its method may prove counterproductive.
17 Feb 2021 Russia vs the EU Daniel Woker A visit to Moscow by Europe’s top envoy did nothing to calm a growing diplomatic spat. What if Washington weighs in?
3 Feb 2021 Macron and Biden: “Friends, allied, but not aligned” Eglantine Staunton After the tests of Donald Trump, the French president has flagged he will be a demanding partner for America.
8 Dec 2020 Artefacts paving France’s return to Africa Charmaine Manuel As its economic influence shrinks in its former territories, France is trading in a new currency: history.
13 Nov 2020 Jihadist attacks in Nice: The Tunisian connection Leila Ben Mcharek Hopes have been dashed for moderate Islamism to undercut dictatorships, eliminate terrorism and strengthen human rights.
6 Oct 2020 New Caledonia: A vote lost, yet independence advocates claim a win Alexandre Dayant A closer result in the second of three possible referendums shows the territory’s future is not yet settled.
14 Sep 2020 Tackling environmental security threats in the Indian Ocean David Brewster A “Quad-Plus” could bring together regional expertise and resources to address issues of collective interest.
15 Jul 2020 Another independence referendum looms in New Caledonia Jon Fraenkel , Anthony Tutugoro The Covid-19 crisis has been a major controversy, but almost every issue is divided on pro- and anti-independence lines.
7 Apr 2020 A French perspective on Australia’s role in the Indian Ocean Frédéric Grare Looking towards a post–Covid-19 world, France views Australia as a key strategic partner in the region.
16 Oct 2019 New Caledonia decides the timing of its second independence referendum Denise Fisher Loyalists and independence groups are staking out positions, with another two votes now likely.
27 Sep 2019 Jacques Chirac and the Pacific Alexandre Dayant The French president’s engagement with the country’s overseas territories leaves a legacy of promise and betrayal.
2 Sep 2019 Macron’s risky quest for equilibrium via rapprochement Eglantine Staunton The French president has extended a hand to Russia to strengthen Europe in world dominated by the US and China.