I didn't read it that way at all. It was more like "if we're around, why don't we play together on exercise?" Also, he said it in the context of the Indian Ocean, so it would make sense for Australian ships instead of other European ones.
A not insignificant part of the Pacific, and the Indian, is part of France. More so than the UK. It's as appropriate for the French to be working with Australia as it is for the UK or US.
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