While visiting Martinique before heading to French Guiana, Catherine Vautrin met on Thursday morning with representatives from the territory’s armed forces, customs, and judicial system aboard a French Navy vessel. The focus of the discussions was the fight against drug trafficking, the rise of which she directly links to the increase in homicides on the territory.
Catherine Vautrin’s visit to the armed forces in Martinique was a whirlwind one. Having arrived on Wednesday, the Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs left the island for French Guiana early Thursday afternoon. Before her departure, she attended a meeting Thursday morning aboard the French Navy ship Dumont d’Urville. The main focus of the meeting was the fight against drug trafficking. On board, sitting prominently on a table, were the results of a seizure at sea: a bundle of drugs and an engine bearing the bullet holes left by the shots fired to stop the vessel. «Drug trafficking is a major problem in Martinique, Guadeloupe, and mainland France. That is why the government is fully committed to addressing it,» the minister stated. The stated goal is to stop the flow of drugs and bring the perpetrators to justice so they can be convicted. Catherine Vautrin highlights the link between drug trafficking and the rise in homicides in the territory. «This is a public safety issue.»
The Minister of the Armed Forces announced that 140 personnel will be deployed to Martinique. «We will increase additional investments by 150 million euros by 2030 because it is important that the resources be in place. » Whether air, land, or sea-based, Catherine Vautrin explains that all available military resources are being mobilized in the fight against drug trafficking.
«France has the world’s second-largest EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). We are, of course, a Caribbean nation just as we are an Indo-Pacific nation.»
In 2024, the FAA seized 28 metric tons of narcotics, compared to more than 35 metric tons in 2025—an increase of 20%. The minister attributes this rise both to the intensification of the flow of narcotics and to the effectiveness of the armed forces. «That is why our teams must continue their work. It is a result of the mobilization of all our resources.» « She continued: »It’s not just about disrupting this trafficking but about arresting the perpetrators because it’s deadly. We know the financial and human costs, and that is what we want to combat.”
In addition to domestic cooperation, the Minister of the Armed Forces emphasizes the importance of international cooperation. «We are working with countries that are directly affected. This commitment to protecting the safety of our citizens and combating trafficking leads us to take government action at sea.»
Laurianne Nomel
