Indo-French 'Republic' Bonhomie

Endorsing India’s invitation to be guest of honor at 67^th Republic Day Parade, France President Francois Hollande was on a three-day State visit to India. At a time when both India and France are bracing the scourge of terrorism, there is a growing need to reinvigorate the “special and strategic partnership” institutionalized in 1998 by Jacques Chirac on his visit to India. The Indo-France relations dated back to medieval ages endeared the trials and tribulations of colonial ages, gradually culminated into a realm where France’s voting patterns at UN Security Council made it an all-weather friend of India. France is one of the few nations which hasn’t condemned India’s nuclear tests in 1998 and consistently supported India’s candidature for an extended UNSC and to G8 nations grouping. A study of India’s Strategic Partners: A Comparative Assessment conducted by the Foundation for the National Security Research, New Delhi in 2011 listed Russia as India’s top most strategic partner followed by US, France, UK, Germany and Japan. France was the first country with which India entered into Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement following a clean waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in January 2008. France has been major defence supplier. India’s major strategic acquisitions from France includes Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter aircrafts, Scorpene class submarines.

Over the past two decades, there has been substantial diplomatic upsurge in Indo-France relationships with top leaders from both countries engaging in official and state visits. Hollande was on his second bilateral visit to India to attend the Republic Day Parade. France is the only country to be bestowed with an unprecedented diplomatic esteem of being invited five times for the highest ceremonial event of the country. French reciprocated the honor by sending its 35^th Infantry Regiment that fought in Iraq and Afghanistan to march on the Rajpath at the Republic Day parade-the first ever foreign troops to march at Republic Day Parade since 1950. With French troops marching down the India Gate curtains are drawn over India’s military isolationism.  In fact concerted efforts of Modi in showcasing the potential of Indian military and enhancing military cooperation too bore fruit. In 2009, recognizing the invaluable contribution of Indian Army at World War I and II France invited troops for the Bastille Day Parade wherein Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh was the guest of hour. Thus, a 400-member strong Indian for the first time participated in another country’s national parade.

In line with the efforts of earlier French Presidents to evolve a valuable strategic partnership with India, Hollande’s three day visit to India delved on consolidating defence and civil nuclear cooperation and expanding partnership in areas of smart city development, trade, solar energy, counter-terrorism, make in India initiative and infrastructure development. President Hollande unveiled India trip by landing directly at Chandigarh, a city designed by Swiss-French Architect, Le Corbusier and one of the three cities in the list of smart city development project collaborated with France. Other two cities in the list are Pondicherry, a former French colony and Nagpur. Modi extended a warm welcome to Hollande at the Chandigarh airport and both leaders after a brief visit to Rock Garden addressed the CEO forum and underscoring the impending need for an enhanced strategic partnership to fight terror. Drawing parallels to Mumbai attacks, Modi vehemently proscribed Paris attacks and in the joint statement both leaders called upon the World to seek action against Pakistani outfits Laskhar-e-Taiba, Haqqani Network, Al Qaeda, Hijab-ul-Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed and urged Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai, Gurdaspur and Pathankot attacks to justice. Speaking at Chandigarh, Modi informed that the day Paris was attacked, he decided to invite Hollande as guest of honor at Republic Day parade to express Indian solidarity “in the fight against enemies of humanity”.

The joint statement reiterated the need for urgent reforms in the UNSC and appealed for expansion of the Security Council to increase representation of the contemporary world. France reaffirmed its support to India’s candidature. France agreed to support India’s accession to the multilateral export control regimes like the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), NSG, Fissile Material Control Regime (FMCR), the Australian Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement. Both countries have agreed to intensify cooperation on counter-terrorism and expand it to areas of cyber security and intelligence sharing to crack the terror networks. France welcomed India’s decision of ratifying the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage. Translating the vision of shared commitment towards climate change, wherein leaders- Modi and Hollande jointly launched the ISA at COP-21 on November 30^th France announced 2 billion Euros for the development of renewable energies. In a most befitting symbol for commitment towards renewable energy both leaders opted for a metro ride to lay foundation stone for the interim secretariat of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) at Gurgoan. ISA is an alliance of 121 tropical and subtropical nations created to harness the Solar potential at the COP-21 meet. India is initially investing $30 billion and aims to raise $400 billion from the member countries and other international agencies.

At the CEO forum, Modi focused his attention on reflecting India’s quest for a sustained economic development, reiterated its potential as a source of labor and market for French products. In a move to boost the bilateral trade worth Euro 8.6 billion both leaders met business leaders from India and France. Despite contrasting ideological moorings both leaders have fervently pushed ahead their economic agendas. France, currently reeling under the burden of spiraling unemployment and stuttering economic growth intends to fast-track its economy by investing in potentially emerging markets like India. Coincidentally, India having allocated $150 billion for modernization of its military is intent on forging partnership with technology superpower. With France heading for Presidential elections in 2017, Hollande is keen on steering the economy by expanding its investments in India. Thus, a strategic and reliable partnership between these nations is more meaningful now than ever.

Besides, the most anticipated Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA) on Rafale fighters several agreements were signed between India and France. Prime Minister Modi on his bilateral visit to France in April 2015 bypassing the usual procurement process in lieu of “critical operational necessity” spear-headed government to government agreement for acquisition of 36 Rafale Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) fighters in fly-away condition. Both the countries are keen on finalizing the deal with France expected to gain much needed 10 to 12 billion Euros. Barring few financial glitches over price bargaining the Rafale deal is close to completion. In all 14 agreement signed, renewed emphasis was laid on expanding space cooperation. Accordingly, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) and its counterpart CNES (National Centre for Space Studies) will work together in the next Mars Mission, in hosting the Argos-4 payload onboard India’s Oceanstat-3 satellite and to work on joint Thermal Infrared Earth Observation Mission. France announced an investment of $10 billion over a period of next five years towards India’s industrial sector. Under the Make in India initiative French industrial giant Alstom will make 800 horse power locomotives at electric locomotive company in Madhepur, Bihar. The existing Delhi-Chandigarh line will be upgraded to 200kmph, in line with smart city development mission with France. A declaration was made to celebrate Namaste France (India Festival) in 2016 and Bonjour India (France festival) in 2017. An agreement was also signed between Airbus group and Mahindra to manufacture helicopters in India. A joint venture worth 155 million Euros was signed between Indian SITAC group and EDF Energie Nouvelles to generate 142MW renewable energy and one gigawatts wind energy in Gujarat in five years. Both countries also agreed to renew agreement on defence cooperation signed in 2006 for ten years. It is also agreed to speed up negotiations on the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in 2016 and gear up for its implementation by 2017. A revised MoU was signed between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and French Firm EDF for construction of six EPRs (European Pressurized Reactor) at Jaitapur.

Finally Hollande wrapped up three day long state visit to India by attending the Republic Day Parade followed by a special luncheon at Mumbai attended by various politicians, businessmen and artistes. In the past 20 months of his tenure as Prime Minister, Modi has relentless worked to revive India’s engagement with all the major powers of the World. In the present scenario of multi-polarity, countries are drawn into the ambit of various power fulcrums. China with its vast maritime, military presence and economic clout has been championing for a dominant role in the contemporary World. On the other hand, the US having wooed the Western World is rearing to extend its foot print across the globe. India can best evade the danger of being drawn into any of these groups by consolidating its special and strategic partnership with France. Moreover, France always favored India on several occasions. Further, Post 13/11, France’s own traumatizing experiences and its narrative of war on terrorism are congruent with the Modi’s untiring appeals for global action against terrorism.