France: Macron to begin official visit to Japan and South Korea starting today.

The French president Emmanuel Macron He will visit Japan and South Korea from today until April 3 to strengthen cooperation with key Indo-Pacific partners, amid complex relations with the United States and China and the war in the Middle East. In Tokyo, Macron will meet with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, while in Seoul he will meet with President Lee Jae-myung, on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and South Korea. Representatives of over 350 French companies will participate in the mission to the two Asian countries. Key topics include energy security, particularly in light of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and the risks to commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the resilience of supply chains and the response to China’s industrial overcapacity.

The visit also aims to coordinate priorities ahead of the G7 summit in Evian next June, with a particular focus on economic security, industrial cooperation, and strategic technologies. On the military front, France and Japan intend to strengthen the cooperation established in recent years with joint exercises. With Seoul, Paris aims to expand a relationship that has so far focused primarily on economic and cultural exchanges, exploring new partnerships in sectors such as emerging technologies, energy, and defense.