AFP eyes more joint military drills with French Armed Forces

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 29, 2023): AFP eyes more joint military drills with French Armed Forces (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Joint Commander in the Asia-Pacific Zone of the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia, Rear Adm. Geoffroy D' Andigné (left) and AFP Inspector General Lt. Gen. William N. Gonzales (right) (Photo courtesy of AFP)

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the French Armed Forces are looking to forge more engagements in the field of military cooperation, logistics operations, training and education.

This came after Lt. Gen. William N. Gonzales, AFP Inspector General, formally welcomed Rear Adm. Geoffroy D' Andigné, Joint Commander in the Asia-Pacific Zone of the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia, during his visit to Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Thursday.

"We are very thankful to you and we appreciate your participation in our exercises here. We are hoping for more robust military engagements, particularly in joint military exercises or subject matter exchange," Gonzales said.

Andigné was accompanied by French Ambassador to Manila Michèle Boccoz and discussed future plans for defense cooperation and modernization.

Gonzales said it is the AFP’s intent to conduct future information-sharing and engagements on maritime domain awareness to leverage the alliance with like-minded nations such as France.

"It is a good investment in the future to have people understand the culture of another country and it gives a high leverage in terms of cooperation in the long-term,” Andigné said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1204595