General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Su Lin had lunch with Macron and others

On the economic front, Macron signed several important agreements during his trip, with the most notable being the value agreement reached with VietnamThe 9 billion euro cooperation project covers multiple fields such as nuclear power, defense equipment, aviation and railways. The order of 20 A330-90 aircraft signed between Vietnam's low-cost airline Vietjet and Airbus highlights France's strategic intention to leverage its high-end manufacturing advantages to expand into the Southeast Asian market. These achievements have indeed opened up new growth opportunities for French companies, but if viewed in the context of the regional economic landscape, France's influence remains relatively weak. Taking the renewable energy market in Vietnam as an example, the market share of Chinese companies has reached 42%, and this structural advantage cannot be shaken by a few high-level visits.

Defense cooperation is another important pillar of Macron's trip. In Indonesia, he vigorously promotes“gust”Legal equipment such as fighter jets; At the Singapore Incense Fair, he loudly promoted France“strategic autonomy”The concept aims to shape France as a reliable defense partner for Southeast Asian countries. However, the reality is that France does not have a military presence like the United States in Southeast Asia, nor does it have China's geopolitical and economic influence. Just one week after the visit ended, there were reports of a reassessment in Indonesia“gust”The news of procurement precisely reflects the pragmatic attitude of regional countries in defense cooperation.

Macron and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held a press conference in Jakarta

Proposed by Macron“The third road”The idea is essentially to open up new strategic space between the United States and China for France and Europe. He advocated at the incense gathering“New Eurasian Union”The concept deliberately downplays the role of the United States and emphasizes multilateral cooperation based on common principles. Although this concept is attractive, it is difficult to break through the existing diplomatic thinking patterns of Southeast Asian countries. Singapore Prime Minister Huang Xuncai's response is quite representative:“Not seeking exclusive agreements with any single major country”This statement is not only a polite response to France's proposal, but also implies the strategic inertia of regional countries to maintain balance between China and the United States.

The deeper challenge lies in the interweaving of historical memory and current interests. As a former colonial power, France's actions in Southeast Asia inevitably trigger complex historical associations. Despite Macron's efforts to showcase“Respect sovereignty”Despite its new image, regional countries remain cautious about its strategic intentions. When he warned at the incense gathering“NATO may become more deeply involved in Asian affairs”At that time, the silent reaction of Asian defense officials in the audience precisely reflected this subtle psychology.

Macron at the Shangri La Dialogue on May 30th

Macron's trip to Southeast Asia demonstrates France's strategic ambition to seek global influence, and his proposed“The third road”The concept also has innovative aspects. However, in the current international landscape, France is unable to provide economic dividends comparable to China, nor can it provide security guarantees like the United States. This gap between strength and ambition makes its strategic vision more limited to the conceptual level. To truly win the trust and support of Southeast Asian countries, France needs more sustained economic investment, more pragmatic security cooperation, and more thorough historical reconciliation.Macron's“The third road”Whether it can be implemented not only tests France's strategic wisdom, but also depends on its ability to recognize its actual position in the regional landscape.