French President Emmanuel Macron has embarked on a proactive diplomatic mission in Asia, positioning France as a valuable alternative to major global powers. His recent visit to Bangladesh reflects a broader strategy to engage with mid-sized countries in a region where influential players like China, Russia, and the United States are vying for influence.
Macron’s visit to New Delhi for high-level talks with G20 leaders, including a lunch meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, preceded his journey to neighboring Bangladesh. This South Asian nation, with a rapidly growing population of 170 million, is a focal point of France’s outreach.
During his visit to Dhaka, Macron expressed France’s intention to offer an alternative path amid what he described as a region grappling with new forms of imperialism. He emphasized a French strategy centered on bolstering the independence and strategic autonomy of its partner countries, with the aim of preserving their sovereignty.
In addition to Macron’s visit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had also visited Bangladesh shortly before the G20 summit. Russia is actively involved in building a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh, a massive $13 billion project financed by a Russian government loan. In contrast, France is looking to share its nuclear expertise, though the actualization of a power plant contract remains a more distant prospect.
France has made notable strides in the aerospace sector during Macron’s visit. In a country historically dominated by Boeing, Macron successfully negotiated a deal for Airbus to sell 10 A-350 aircraft to the national flagship carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd.
This visit to Bangladesh follows a series of brief yet high-level trips by Macron to Asian nations earlier in the year, including Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, and Sri Lanka. Macron, who launched France’s Indo-Pacific strategy in 2018, is positioning Europe as a “third way” in a region increasingly defined by the rivalry between China and the United States.
A French diplomat acknowledged that France, with a population of 60 million, cannot directly compete with China. However, as a European country, France can play a unique role in diversifying alliances for countries in the region, ensuring they are not overly reliant on a single dominant power. France sees itself as an ally of the United States but also seeks to pursue its own interests in the Indo-Pacific region, contributing to the diversification of regional relationships.