From 5 to 11 November 2024, the surveillance frigate (FS) Prairial made a stopover in Maizuru, on the west coast of Japan. This Japanese port had not welcomed a French vessel since 2000. This stopover was therefore an opportunity to strengthen ties between the French Navy and the Japanese Naval Self-Defense Forces.
A VIP day was organized from the perspective of a common cultural heritage around the saber, weapon of the naval officer and weapon of the samurai.
The meetings also provided an opportunity to present to VIPs and journalists the missions of Prairial and its contribution to the Enforcement Coordination Cell (ECC) mission , which aims to combat North Korea’s circumvention of the sanctions established by the UN Security Council.
Then, a delegation of sailors from Prairial went to the nearby town of Tsuruga to pay tribute to two French sailors from the Far East squadron who died in the late 19th and early 21st centuries and were buried in this port, which was then the only port on the Sea of Japan open to foreigners. The ceremony was followed by a visit to the Museum of Humanity, which devotes a space to the international presence, particularly the French presence, in the region.
The stopover ended with a sports meeting between the French sailors and those of the Sendai , the host ship. The sailors faced each other in a rugby match, resulting in victory for the French delegation and closing a stopover rich in collaboration.
On the eve of its departure from Maizuru, the crew of the Prairial commemorated the end of the First World War
On November 11, the bugle “to the dead” sounded in the Japanese mountains bordering the bay, in homage to the French soldiers who fell on the field of honor between 1914 and 1918.
The commander recalled the current commitment of French military personnel on land, in the air, at sea and under the sea, serving France in the four corners of the world. The crew of the Prairial joined forces with veterans by supporting the Bleuet de France.
The Armed Forces in French Polynesia (FAPF) constitute a joint pre-positioned force with a maritime focus. The FAPF’s main mission is to ensure France’s sovereignty in the Asia-Pacific region. They confirm its status as a sovereign and coastal nation, concerned with regional stability. Around 900 soldiers are engaged in maritime protection missions, fisheries policing and combating illicit trafficking. They are also able to respond , at short notice , to security or environmental crises . The FAPF have specific expertise in providing assistance to populations, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) , which they regularly share with the countries of the South Pacific.