According to information published by the French MFA on April 21, 2023, the French surveillance frigate (FS) Prairial will be on a port call in Yokosuka, Japan, after sea training with a Japan Maritime Self Defense Force frigate off Yokohama Bay.
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French frigate Prairial at Yokosuka, Japan. (Picture source: French MFA)
The relationship between Japan and France has indeed undergone significant developments in recent years. President François Hollande's state visit to Japan in 2013 marked a turning point in the bilateral relationship, which has since been characterized by closer strategic ties and enhanced cooperation in various areas, including defense, intelligence, and practical cooperation.
One of the most significant aspects of this cooperation is the conduct of joint military exercises involving the French armed forces and Japan's Self-Defense Forces.
These exercises serve to deepen mutual understanding and trust, as well as to improve interoperability between the two countries' defense forces. The participation of French naval vessels in exercises in the region, including the deployment of the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship and the frigate FS Vendémiaire, has been notable.
Intelligence cooperation has also become an important aspect of the relationship, with a particular focus on Africa and the Middle East. The two countries have been working closely together to address common security challenges in these regions, and Japan has been providing significant financial assistance to support French operations in the Sahel region of Africa.
Finally, the relationship has also seen practical cooperation in Djibouti, where Japan maintains its first and only overseas facility in support of its counter-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden. This cooperation is another manifestation of the growing strategic partnership between the two countries, which they refer to as "privileged partners."
