In real terms, Indian and French partnership has been built on trust and mutual understanding which has never wilted, not even in 1998 when the West-led by the U.S. put India under sanctions after it conducted nuclear tests in Pokhran in Rajasthan.
France stood by the Indian side when Article 370 was abrogated and Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its special powers in August 2019. A friend in need is a friend indeed. This truism fits perfectly with the India-France friendship.
A reflection of this can be seen in ‘Horizon 2047’ Joint Statement which states: “Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1947, and the upgrading of the partnership to the strategic level in 1998, our two countries have consistently acted together, building on a high level of mutual trust, shared commitment to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and common values rooted in international law.”
The statement was issued during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s just concluded two-day visit to France where he was the Guest of Honour at the country’s National Day, also known as Bastille Day.
Indeed, this was a very “special gesture” extended by France to Prime Minister Modi. PM Modi became the second Indian PM to be the Guest of Honour at Bastille Day, after Manmohan Singh in 2009. But Prime Minister Modi’s presence in France marks special significance as New Delhi and Paris are celebrating 25 years of their strategic partnership this year.
“To mark the 25th anniversary of the Indo-French partnership, both countries agreed to adopt a roadmap to set the course for the bilateral relationship up to 2047, which will celebrate the centenary of India’s independence, the centenary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries and 50 years of the strategic partnership” the Horizon 2047 Joint Statement stated.
However, despite all positive and futuristic talks of India-France partnership in the Horizon 2047 Joint Statement, there was no mention of the Rafale M deal. The GoI’s Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had, just a day before PM Modi’s visit to France, approved an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for acquiring 26 Rafale Ms and three Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy.
As the issues related to price and other details for the package are still to be sorted out, hence, technically it could not be made a part of the Joint Statement.
Another argument forwarded for not finalising the deal despite the announcement is that since parliamentary election in India are due in 2024, the incumbent government did not wanted opposition parties to create any unnecessary noise over the deal and avoid any irrelevant resultant controversy, as had happened in the past.
But then, the two countries have stitched deals for co-development and co-production in advanced defence technologies sector. For example, they agreed to extend their defence cooperation in the development of advanced aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint manufacturing of a combat aircraft engine.
They also agreed to support industrial cooperation for motorisation of heavy-lift helicopters under the Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) programme with Safran Helicopter Engine, France. To enable progress on the IMRH programme, a Shareholders’ Agreement between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India and Safran Helicopter Engine, France was also concluded for engine development.
India’s GRSE and Naval Group France, a leader in the European naval defence industry, to collaborate in the field of surface ships
A MoU was signed between India’s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) and Naval Group France, a leader in the European naval defence industry, to collaborate in the field of surface ships. In addition, a contract was concluded between HAL and Safran Helicopter Engine for the transfer of technology related to forging and castings for the Shakti engine.
Some experts cite these developments for India-France defence partnership as exceptional, as the two countries showed their intention to chalk out a roadmap for military equipment and technologies that could fulfil future needs of the Indian and French military as well. “We have decided to work and co-develop the next generation of equipment. And we are working on a roadmap in the defence field,” French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain said during a press conference on 18th July in New Delhi.
However, it is not just defence but in strategic areas also, India and France have shown their desire to infuse dynamism in bilateral partnership and it could be seen in the Indo-Pacific. With Quad deepening its engagement in the area, France’s decision to allow its sovereign territories in the region like New Caledonia and French Polynesia for enhancing strategic partnership between the two countries assumes significance.
Horizon 2047 Joint Statement shows that the two countries have consistently acted together, building on a high level of mutual trust, shared commitment to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and common values rooted in international law
Lying east of Australia and in the middle of the Pacific, New Caledonia is a vast, unique French overseas territory. It is home to the French military’s airbase in the Indo-Pacific. China has often been accused of inciting locals to seek independence from France and in 2021, a referendum was successfully held and those supporting China were summarily decimated by pro-French native population.
Similarly, French Polynesia comprises 118 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching more than 4,000 sq. km in the South Pacific Ocean. For France, it is a highly important strategic area as it has also facilitated Paris, as per BBC, with nuclear testing facilities and thereby, enabling it to become world’s leading power. France has a military base in Tahiti, one of the islands of French Polynesia.
To build a balanced and stable order in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region, both India and France have decided to strengthen their maritime cooperation with New Caledonia and French Polynesia serving as key centres of their militaries’ regular exchanges and drills.
The visit of PM Modi to France will really serves as a boost to bilateral ties between two time-tested friends.
–The writer is a senior journalist with wide experience in covering international affairs. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
–The writer is a senior journalist with wide experience in covering international affairs. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
