One of France's largest navy ships has sailed into north Queensland waters as part of a mammoth voyage aimed at increasing its presence in the Indo-Pacific.
The LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) Dixmude docked at the Port of Townsville on Tuesday with nearly 640 sailors and soldiers on board, along with numerous vehicles and aircraft.
The 200-metre amphibious assault ship is on a five-month training deployment, stopping in at 10 countries as part of Mission Jeanne d'Arc 2023.
Commander of the Australian Army's Combat Training Centre, Colonel Benjamin McLennan, said the ship's arrival in Queensland was momentous.
"This is the first visit of this type to an Australian port that I'm aware of, and certainly the first one to Townsville of this scale," he said.
While docked in the garrison city, 120 French soldiers will take part in training exercises with their Australian counterparts.
A smaller French vessel travelling with the LHD Dixmude — a La Fayette-class frigate — will spend the week in Cairns.
"I think it sends a message to everyone in the Indo-Pacific that we are, as allies, better together, and that we are going to continue to work and operate and train with each other here in Australia [and] elsewhere in the region," Colonel McLennan said.
"We're both interested in a peaceful and secure Indo-Pacific region."
Last month, French and Australian forces took part in Exercise La Perouse in the Bay of Bengal, alongside personnel from India, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
France has continued to ramp up its presence in the Indo-Pacific, where it holds numerous territories.
The country's territories provide it with an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of more than 11 million square kilometres, the second-largest after the United States.
France's Ambassador to Australia, Jean-Pierre Thébault, said the current naval deployment was a sign of the times.
"This is a hotly contested area, and that's the reason for which we need to bring stability," he said.
Almost 18 months on from the collapse of the Australia-France submarine deal, Mr Thébault said he was confident in the relationship between the two nations as Indo-Pacific allies.
"The strength of the bilateral relation has never been so strong, especially in light of what was the decision taken by a prime minister [in 2021]," Mr Thébault said.
"Fundamentally, this never stopped the cooperation.
"We never stopped feeling – both countries – that we have the unique link and a unique responsibility in the region, because we are stakeholders in this region."
