「円滑化協定」交渉入り合意　中国にらみ安保連携強化―日仏首脳

　【パリ時事】岸田文雄首相は２日午後（日本時間同日夜）、フランスのマクロン大統領とエリゼ宮（大統領府）で会談し、自衛隊と仏軍の相互往来を容易にする「円滑化協定（ＲＡＡ）」締結に向けた交渉入りで合意した。中国の軍事的台頭を踏まえ、安全保障面での連携拡大を打ち出した。
　ＲＡＡは自衛隊と仏軍が相手国で活動する際の法的地位を定めるもので、出入国や武器・弾薬持ち込みの手続きが簡素化される。日本はこれまでオーストラリア、英国と締結しており、フィリピンと交渉中だ。
　日仏は情報保護協定や防衛装備品・技術移転協定、物品役務相互提供協定（ＡＣＳＡ）を締結済みで、「準同盟」の色彩が強まることとなる。フランスは南太平洋に仏領ポリネシアなどを抱える「太平洋国家」で、仏陸軍が陸上自衛隊と昨年ニューカレドニアで初の共同訓練を行うなど、近年、日本と連携した活動が増加傾向にある。（2024/05/03-00:29）

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday agreed to begin talks to ink a proposed reciprocal access agreement to facilitate mutual visits by Japanese Self-Defense Forces and French military members.
   Kishida and Macron vowed to expand cooperation in the security field in response to China's growing military presence.
   An RAA is designed to simplify procedures for bringing in weapons and ammunition when entering partner countries. Japan has RAAs with Australia and Britain and is in talks to conclude one with the Philippines.
   Japan and France already have an accord on the protection of classified military information, a defense equipment and technology transfer pact and an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, or ACSA.
   France is a Pacific nation that includes French Polynesia in the South Pacific. In recent years, France has been enhancing security cooperation with Japan. The French army conducted its first joint exercise with the Ground SDF in the French territory of New Caledonia in the South Pacific last year.