India and France Reaffirm Commitment to Further Strengthen Strategic Partnership

Date:

New Delhi: India and France have had close relationship for years now. The two nations came closer since 1998 when they entered into a strategic partnership and adopted two framework documents during the two-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Paris in July, 2023, and meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Recently, Macron called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared his assessment on the  meetings between US President Donald Trump, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had called Modi to share his “insights” on the meeting with Trump in Alaska.

ads

The Prime Minister’s office said, “Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a phone call from the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron.” “The leaders exchanged views on the ongoing efforts for peaceful resolution of conflicts in Ukraine and the West Asia region,” the PMO said. “President Macron shared assessment on the recent meetings held between the leaders of the Europe, US and Ukraine in Washington. He also shared his perspectives on the situation in Gaza,” it said.

The PMO statement said Modi reiterated India’s consistent support for peaceful resolution of conflicts and early restoration of peace and stability.

Modi posted on X: “Had a very good conversation with my friend President Macron. Exchanged views on efforts for peaceful resolution of conflicts in Ukraine and in West Asia. Reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthen the India-France strategic partnership.”

Macron said, in a post on X: “I have just spoken with Prime Minister @NarendraModi. We coordinated our positions on the war in Ukraine in order to move towards a just and lasting peace, with strong guarantees for Ukraine and Europe’s security.”

big bang

“On trade issues, we agreed to strengthen our economic exchanges and our strategic partnership in all areas — this is the key to our sovereignty and independence,” he said.

The Indo-French strategic partnership is based on nine key parameters which are 1) Civil nuclear cooperation 2) Defence Cooperation 3) Maritime Security and Indo-Pacific cooperation 4) Counter-terrorism cooperation 5) Space cooperation 6) Cyber security and digital cooperation 7) Foreign policy 8) Regional level cooperation 9) Climate change and  environment protection.

huges

As a follow up on the AI Action Summit held in Paris last February, the French President said, “we are working towards the success of the AI Impact Summit to be held in New Delhi in 2026.”

“For more effective multilateralism, we agreed to work closely together in preparation for the French presidency of the G7 and the Indian presidency of the BRICS in 2026,” Macron said.

The PMO said that the leaders also “reviewed progress in the bilateral cooperation agenda, including in the areas of trade, defence, civil nuclear cooperation, technology and energy. They reaffirmed joint commitment to strengthen India-France Strategic Partnership…” The PMO said Macron conveyed support for early conclusion of the India-EU FTA.

In 2023, France and India celebrated 25 years of their strategic partnership. Two framework documents were adopted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France on July 13 and 14.

These were a roadmap setting the course for the bilateral relationship up to 2047, the centenary of India’s Independence; and a roadmap specifically dedicated to  cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The strategic partnership now goes far beyond security and defence issues, extending from the depths of the ocean to outer space.

In a recent X (erstwhile Twitter) post, Bhaskar Kanungo – Chief Strategy Officer, Naval Group India, highlighting the strength of India–France strategic relations, commented, “India and France have a long way to go not just for bilateral ties and strategic partnership. The Indo-French relationship goes beyond in shaping regional and global peace and security. France fully endorses India’s aspiration for self-reliance in strategic assets and support to allies with jointly developed industrial solutions.”

He added, “France has been a reliable, consistent and pragmatic partner in strategic areas. The cooperation between India and France are evident with forefront Scorpene submarines with DRDO technologies in Indian Navy’s submarine, Rafale aircrafts, space technologies, cooperation in civil nuclear technologies.”

Since the conclusion of the France-India strategic partnership in 1998, bilateral relations have been structured around regular high-level meetings. Every year, the Indo-French strategic dialogue brings together the French President’s Diplomatic Adviser and India’s National Security Adviser for discussions on defence and security cooperation, major international and regional issues, and counter-terrorism, cyber security, space, and civil nuclear energy cooperation.

The partnership between the two nations is strengthened by regular official visits. Prime Minister Modi visited France in June 2017, August 2019 (bilateral meeting in Chantilly and participation in the G7 Summit in Biarritz), May 2022, and as guest of honour at the July 14 parade in the summer of 2023. President Macron came on a State visit to India in March 2018 and then, as chief guest for India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations, in January 2024.

France and India adopted a roadmap on the blue economy and ocean governance on February 20, 2022 during a visit to Paris by India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar. It comprises four main pillars covering a broad spectrum of cooperation: i) an institutional pillar on ocean governance based on the rule of law; ii) an economic pillar; iii) an infrastructure pillar; and iv) a scientific and academic pillar.

– The writer is a senior journalist and media consultant. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda.

More like this

Defence Secretary Launches “GAINS 2025” at GRSE: Empowering Innovators of Aatmanirbhar Bharat

Kolkata. Buoyed by the energy and enthusiasm generated in...

Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth Inaugurates Garuda Aerospace New Defence Drone Facility

Chennai. Following the successful launch of its Agridrone facility...

Navantia to Enhance Capability of Two OPVs for Royal Thai Navy

Bangkok. Navantia has signed a new contract with the...

Germany to Procure 90 Rafael Litening 5 Targeting Pods for its Eurofighter Typhoon Fleet

Tel Aviv: The German parliament has authorised the procurement...

Ukraine Unveils Domestically Produced Long-Range Cruise Missile ‘Flamingo’

Tel Aviv: Ukraine has unveiled a new long-range cruise...

Bondada Engineering Ltd Incorporates Subsidiary Bondada Dynamics Pvt Ltd, Marks Entry into the Defence Sector

Hyderabad: The incorporation of Bondada Dynamics Private Limited (BSE: 543971)...

Why Trump Despises India

POTUS Donald Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on India,...
Indian Navy Special EditionLatest Issue