Final answer:
France established colonies primarily in West Africa and Indochina. The correct answer is option a).
Step-by-step explanation:
The nation that established colonies primarily in West Africa and Indochina was a) France. In the later nineteenth century, France acquired extensive colonial holdings throughout Africa, including West Africa. French colonies in West Africa included the Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Burkina Faso, and Chad. France also had colonies in Indochina, which included modern-day Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. For example, French naval officer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza traveled to the region.
Negotiating with local rulers and signing treaties on behalf of France, which led to the acquisition of these colonies. These colonies played a crucial role in supplying France with essential resources and strategic advantages, forming an integral part of their industrial and military aspirations throughout this period.