| Officers of the Chinese fleet, signing a guestbook, at the end of their stay in Madagascar, April 14. |
Visits by foreign war fleets to the ports of Madagascar follow one another. This is a military diplomacy driven by geopolitical motivations, security and economic issues.
Military diplomacy. In recent years, ordinary citizens, especially those in the country’s port cities, have been able to take stock of this. In the field of defense and maritime security, especially, Madagascar is increasingly at the heart of a military diplomatic waltz.
The ports of Toamasina and Antsiranana often welcome foreign warships. However, in recent years, these visits have continued. Since the start of the war in Ukraine and the rise of tensions in the Middle East, these visits have followed one another. Countries even send an entire fleet. The tension between China and Taiwan also adds its grain of salt. Geopolitical influence games are being played behind the scenes. There are also security and maritime issues explaining this incessant military diplomatic waltz.
The visit of three Chinese warships on April 10 to the port of Toamasina drew attention to the subject. According to a communication from the Ministry of the Armed Forces, on its Facebook page, this is the 45th escort fleet of the Chinese navy. The three ships thus made a stopover for a few days in Madagascar, after carrying out a mission to escort Chinese commercial boats in Somali waters and in the Gulf of Aden.
Securing commercial boats against maritime piracy is the reason for this incessant waltz near Malagasy waters. Two of the main maritime commercial highways are, in fact, just a stone’s throw from the maritime territory of Madagascar. One is in the Mozambique Channel and the other in the Indian Ocean. For several months, attacks carried out by the Houthis off the coast of Yemen have disrupted international commercial shipping.
To some extent, securing maritime convoys is a multinational operation. However, certain countries are taking advantage of this to intensify their diplomatic offensive, through their army. Given current geopolitics, having entry into Madagascar could be an asset. Especially in the field of maritime security and defense. The use of war fleets as a foil is a way of giving an overview of the means and possibilities of strengthening military cooperation between countries linked by an agreement.
Interests
For China, “this is a desire to extend the concept of the new Silk Road on the strengthening of commercial links to the military domain”. Before the Middle Kingdom, India’s offensive in military diplomacy was also remarkable. In 2014, four Indian Navy units called at Antsiranana. Since then, Indian warships have frequently stopped in the waters at the port of the region’s capital Diana. In March 2023, two of them docked there with three hundred and fifty elements on board.
Japan, South Korea, Italy and Turkey are launching a diplomatic offensive for military cooperation with the Big Island. The area of maritime security is always at the center of discussions. Opposite, there are Madagascar’s conventional partners, France and the United States. Last week, for example, with the passage of the military boat Le Champlain in Antsiranana, the French navy shared experience with the Malagasy naval forces in the field of sea rescue.
France can also count on the Armed Forces of the Southern Indian Ocean Zone (FASZOI) to maintain close ties with Madagascar, on a military level. Yet another edition of the Papangue exercise was held from April 7 to 12, in Reunion. A joint exercise, organized by France, through the FASZOI. Madagascar has always taken part. For several years, the United States has done the same with the Cutlass Express exercise. The fight against maritime piracy, illegal fishing and human trafficking are the stated objectives.
Senior military officials often visit the country as precursors to these joint exercises. Coming back to warship visits, these maneuvers are also a struggle for influence. This is a way for both sides to indicate that they can defend their interests anywhere. However, Madagascar can also ride on these diplomatic offensives to strengthen itself in the area of security and maritime defense.
The Big Island can draw its card from this diplomatic game at the heart of which it finds itself, at first glance, in spite of itself. Until now, there is only talk of sharing experience, training, or even scholarships for military academies and war schools. Madagascar can, however, claim to have more. It can even extend its diplomatic benefits to other areas, beyond military interests.
