France

France is not a highly important partner for Southeast Asia, ranking 16th for overall influence, a reflection of its more distant geographic position, despite its resident power status elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific. Driven by strong defence cooperation, France has greatest influence in Singapore. Other bright spots for France’s engagement include the reach of French media outlets, particularly radio (where France ranks third), and inbound investment flows, where France is a top ten partner for most countries. France’s engagement with the region has grown modestly but consistently since 2017, likely because of its Indo-Pacific strategy and more proactive efforts to engage with the region through diplomatic and defence outreach.