Why the topic resurfaced: The claim, which was posted on January 31, 2023, could be a result of Marcos’ acceptance of France’s invitation for a state visit, which was announced four days earlier on January 27, 2023.Īccording to PNA, Boccoz said the priority areas for the state visit are food security, energy, climate change, and biodiversity, including people-to-people ties. The MRIC article also said the country’s submarine group was formed in 2015 even without any confirmed plans for acquisition of a submarine. The article did not say this is connected to the Philippines’ potential acquisition of French submarines. The second part of the script came from a Maritime Research Information Center’s (MRIC) article published on November 9, 2022, about a number of Philippine Navy officers undergoing submarine training in France. Official news reports by, PhilStar, and the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on the meeting also said there was no finalized plan for the submarine deal then. However, the article said that the submarine deal is an ongoing discussion, with no confirmation of a final deal. discussed the possibility of a submarine deal between the two countries at their meeting last September 2022. The Defense Post article reported that French ambassador to the Philippines Michele Boccoz and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The first part of the video’s script is from an article published by independent media outlet The Defense Post on September 15, 2022.

Military submarine for sale