France’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Rémi Lambert, is likely aware of Napoleon Bonaparte’s famous remark about the strategic importance of Trincomalee Harbour. Napoleon is often attributed with stating that whoever controls Trincomalee controls the Indian Ocean. He recognised the strategic value of this natural harbour, which later became an important naval base for the British Royal Navy.
Even before the Napoleonic Wars, the region had been a key theatre of conflict during the American Revolutionary War. In 1782, during the Battle of Trincomalee, French Admiral Bailli de Suffren engaged the British Royal Navy under Admiral Edward Hughes. The French temporarily captured Trincomalee Harbour and used it as a vital supply base to support their alliance with Indian powers.
In modern times, French President Emmanuel Macron has recognised Sri Lanka’s geopolitical significance in the Indian Ocean. Following Sri Lanka’s sovereign default and economic crisis, France played an important role in supporting the debt restructuring process through the Paris Club, helping Sri Lanka move towards securing an IMF agreement. During this period, President Ranil Wickremesinghe was invited to France’s New Global Financial Pact Summit. Macron also discussed bilateral relations and maritime security with Wickremesinghe during a transit stopover in Colombo. Subsequently, Rear Admiral Hugues Lainé, the French Joint Forces Commander in the Indian Ocean, visited Sri Lanka and met senior defence officials, highlighting the importance of Sri Lanka’s geographical position and maritime domain for future cooperation.
Just last week, during the visit of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces Commander, Ambassador Lambert met Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. He conveyed that French investors were interested in investing in development projects at the East Container Terminal of the Port of Colombo. Soon afterwards, Lambert met Ports Minister Anura Karunathilaka and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, accompanied by a delegation of leading French investors.
The delegation was headed by the Executive Vice President of CMA CGM, a globally recognised French shipping company. CMA CGM operates container terminals and logistics facilities in major ports worldwide. The company’s Vice President expressed its willingness to contribute to the development of the Port of Colombo through a joint venture, citing the port’s strategic location. She further noted that CMA CGM is already studying opportunities related to the second phase of the West Container Terminal project at Colombo Port.
During these discussions, Ambassador Lambert announced that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to visit France on July 16, where he will meet the President of CMA CGM.
How France’s growing engagement in Sri Lanka’s geopolitical landscape will be interpreted by the United States, India, and China remains to be seen.
