COMMENTARIES

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle arrives in Subic Bay, Philippines, on 23 February 2025, as part of Mission CLEMENCEAU 25. (Photo from FrenchEmbassyPH / X)

France-Philippines New Defence Agreement: A Pivotal Step?

Matteo Piasentini

The signing of a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement between France and the Philippines is a milestone in Manila’s efforts to diversify its security. It comes at a time when the Marcos Jr administration is flirting with the idea of resetting its ties with Beijing.

How Should Southeast Asia Respond to Carney’s Davos Clarion Call?

Stephen Olson

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posited that the world order was not experiencing a “transition” but rather a “rupture” from the global system established in the aftermath of the Second World War. For Southeast Asia, and its primary institutional forum – ASEAN – this means recognising that some of its most cherished principles might no longer be entirely valid and reassessing traditional assumptions about regional cohesion and commonality of interests.