Emmanuel Macron met Madagascar’s interim leader in Paris on Tuesday, pledging to renew ties as Antananarivo deepens engagement with Moscow.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina arrived days after talks in Moscow with Vladimir Putin, signalling a careful diplomatic balancing act.
Madagascar has joined a list of former French colonies facing military rule since 2020, following coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Those Sahel states have strengthened cooperation with Russia, reshaping regional alliances and raising concern among Western partners.
A Western diplomatic source in Madagascar warned about the speed of Moscow’s outreach to the island’s new authorities.
In a joint statement, the two leaders pledged a renewed and balanced partnership focused on practical results for their populations.
They endorsed guidelines covering political consolidation, French-backed economic development, and continued security and defence cooperation over the next two years.
Macron reaffirmed support for free and transparent elections within the transition timetable announced by Madagascar’s authorities.
France views the mineral-rich island, strategically positioned in the Indian Ocean, as vital amid rising influence from China, India and Russia.
Before departing for Paris, Randrianirina insisted his visits to Russia and France were unrelated and driven by national interest.
He said Madagascar seeks partnerships that deliver tangible benefits to its people, regardless of geopolitical rivalries.
Last week, Randrianirina travelled to Moscow aboard a Russian-chartered plane, weeks after the Kremlin sent military equipment to the island.
He told Putin Madagascar was ready to elevate bilateral cooperation to a new level.
Russian military instructors recently trained Malagasy forces on equipment supplied by Moscow, including drones, according to officials.
The delegation was led by GRU deputy head Andrei Averyanov, who also attended the Kremlin meeting.
Analysts note Madagascar maintained diplomatic and military ties with the Soviet bloc during the Cold War, leaving a lasting institutional legacy.
