France underscored its growing strategic focus on maritime cooperation with South Africa during the port call of the French Navy surveillance frigate Nivôse in Cape Town on February 3, 2026. The visit occurred within the reporting window from 8:45 AM to 9:45 AM UTC, as reported by defenceWeb. The port call demonstrates France's emphasis on enhanced maritime ties with South Africa, according to a statement from defenceWeb published this morning. The Nivôse, a surveillance frigate, arrived in Cape Town to mark this development in bilateral relations. DefenceWeb confirmed the event via its website and X account, noting the strategic importance of the cooperation in regional maritime security. No additional details on the duration of the port call or specific activities were provided in the sources during this one-hour period.
