From 17 to 25 May 2019 , the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and his escort conducted a series of exercises in the Bay of Bengal with representatives from the United States Marines, Australia and Japan.
Dubbed “La Pérouse”, this series of naval exercises allows France to maintain its military cooperation with its main strategic partners in the region.
The aim is to develop and maintain strong links, working habits and mutual knowledge essential to the effectiveness of its actions in these maritime areas of strategic interest where transit 25% of world traffic and 75% of European Union imports.
France is also one of the few European countries to have a permanent military presence in the Indian Ocean.
Credit: Australian Department of Defence
May 23, 2019