French Navy helicopter carrier, frigate to participate in Philippines' Balikatan joint exercises

The French Navy's upcoming participation in Balikatan will be part of this year's Jeanne D’Arc training mission deployment, which will see the two ships sail for the Indo-Pacific. The five-month deployment will commence with the ships' departure from Toulon on February 17.

The French Navy Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group had participated in a maritime cooperative activity with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the South China Sea early last year, though this was not part of the 2025 Balikatan exercises as those were held much later.

France's first participation in Balikatan was in 2024, when the Floreal-class frigate Vendemiaire conducted drills with US and Philippine Navy ships off Palawan province in April and May of that year.