France now has the coveted honour of being the chief guest at Indian Republic Day Celebrations for the sixth time, the maximum for any country. President Emmanuel Macron’s second state visit to India to grace the 75th Republic Day celebrations demonstrates the depth of the Indo-French Strategic Partnership. The special invitation to President Macron coming at the back of Prime Minister Modi’s appearance as the Guest of Honour for the Bastille Day celebration resonates with the robustness of the India-France bilateral partnership. These back-to-back unprecedented honours mark a diplomatic high point culminating in the celebration of 25 years of the declaration of Strategic Partnership.
President Macron was received at
Jaipur by EAM Jaishankar who escorted him to Amber Fort. In a rare gesture, PM
Modi travelled to Jaipur and joined Macron on his brief tour of Jantar Mantar
and Hawa Mahal. Later, in a vibrant display of bonhomie and friendship, Prime
Minister Modi and President Macron after a brief shopping spree using UPI held
a roadshow.
Beyond the show of friendship, the
bilateral engagement is rich in substance as well with many layers of
cooperation and partnership that continued to grow in strength over the years.
Characterised by exceptional trust, confidence and a convergence of interests
including a commitment to a multipolar world, strategic autonomy and upholding rules-based
order both countries in the July 2023 summit have outlined a framework for
partnership- Horizon 2047.
Reaffirming the shared vision, the
leaders have laid out a long-term framework for the partnership built on
pillars of Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, Partnership for the Planet and
Partnership for People. Six months after putting forth an expansive agenda the
leaders besides reviewing the progress made on the framework held restricted
talks on various issues of common interest.
Macron was accompanied by a 40-member high-level
delegation that included ministers of Armed Forces, Culture, European and
Foreign Affairs, CEOs and industry leaders. Underscoring the salience of the
India-France strategic partnership, two Rafale aircraft and a Phenix multi-role
tanker transport aircraft of the French Air and Space Force (FASDF) flew
together with Indian Aircraft over Karthavya Path. 95-member French contingent
participated in the Republic Day Parade reciprocating India's tri-contingent
participation at the French National Day Celebration.
Rapidly changing regional and
international contexts have propelled the Middle powers- India and France to
expedite the implementation of Horizon 2047 and prioritise their collaborations
that can safeguard their sovereignty and security interests. The comprehensive
and extensive exchanges between both leaders who met six times in the last year
and four times in the last six months demonstrate the salience of the strategic
partnership which is growing amid the complex geopolitical environment.
France's defiance of the US-imposed
sanctions against post-nuclear tests in 1998, and standing by India, especially
at UNSC in countering Pak-sponsored terrorism has earned it a special place in
India’s strategic landscape. The partnership steadily nurtured by both
countries has expanded to various domains. Further, a strategic alignment of
interests over issues of climate change, environment, blue economy, and
cultivating underwater domain awareness in response to the contemporary global
challenges have cemented the partnership.
Defence has been one of the major
pillars of bilateral cooperation. As per the Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI), France is the second largest arms supplier of India
after Russia making up 29% of defence imports. Defence exports from France
registered a 489% increase between 2013-17 and 2018-221.
Given India’s attempts to diversify the defence imports, Russia's share has
declined from 62% to 45% in part due to the Ukraine war and New Delhi’s
rigorous quest for self-reliance.
Aligning with India’s Atmanirbhar
vision and dream of Viksit Bharat @2047, Modi and Macron have unveiled a Defence
Industrial Roadmap. Committed to deepening the integration of defence
industrial sectors, countries will now work together in terms of co-design,
co-development and co-production to meet the needs of the Indian Armed forces
and identify opportunities to make India a base for the manufacture and export
of defence supplies to friendly countries.
France’s key aviation player Safran
has agreed to 100% transfer of technology across various phases, establishment
of Maintenance, Repair and Operation (MRO) for Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion
(LEAP) Engines in India. Besides, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and
Safran are entering into a comprehensive partnership with joint venture for
Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) Engine, Scorpene submarines and their
indigenisation. Additionally, DRDO and the French Directorate General of
Armament (DGA) are set to conclude the Arrangement MoU as well2.
Leaders welcomed the partnership
between Airbus and Tata Advanced System to begin the assembly of civilian
helicopters in India. In tune with her climate pledge, India announced the use
of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SVF) for international flights.
Along with defence, security
partnership especially in the Indo-Pacific region is now emerging as the
cornerstone of the relationship. Both India and France are the resident powers
of the region and share a commitment to a free, open, inclusive, secure and
peaceful Indo-Pacific region which has a significant bearing on their strategic
and sovereign interests. With the largest navy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR),
India is a vital partner to France which has several overseas territories in
both the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Besides enhancing interoperability of joint
defence exercises countries are considering distinct tri-services exercises.
With the Indo-Pacific turning into a
theatre for conflicts, countries have agreed to intensify cooperation and build
joint surveillance missions. Securitisation of strategic sea lanes of
communication has become an immediate priority, especially in the wake of Red
Sea attacks which are posing a major threat to maritime trade. Emerging as the
first responder amid the latest spate of hijackings across the region, India
has positioned herself as an invaluable partner to countries with interests in
the Indo-Pacific region. The formation of AUKUS that excluded France has spelt
a death blow to its security interests in the region. The consolidation of- the
Australia, US and UK alliance agreement through AUKUS Pillar 2 has propelled
France to turn to India.
Buttressing the Indo-Pacific
cooperation with India, France called for the early launch of the Indo-Pacific
Triangular Development Cooperation Fund to facilitate the scaling up of green
technologies in the region. Simultaneously, France is revitalising trilateral
cooperation with Australia and UAE with India as its partner. While the Quad
and AUKUS are a response to perceived Chinese security threats in the
Indo-Pacific, France is more concerned about its interests and the erosion of
its diplomatic position in the region.
Other than the Indo-Pacific, India and
France actively collaborate on climate change. While Macron commended India’s
G20 leadership for pushing an inclusive global agenda, India lauded France’s
One Planet-Polar Summit, the first international conference dedicated to
glaciers and poles held in November 2023.
France welcomed India to join the
“Mercator” initiative, to create a global ‘digital twin’ of Ocean in the run up
to UNOC (UN Ocean Conference) 2025 to be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.
Macron invited India to participate in the Global Forum on “Buildings and
Climate” co-organised by France and the UN Environment Program in Paris on
March 7-8, 2024.
As a part of the Partnership for
Planet, countries have agreed to strengthen ongoing cooperation in blue economy
and Ocean governance and institute a Comprehensive Dialogue on Global Issues.
Affirmed to end plastic pollution and countries called for building consensus
for the establishment of a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. In
2015, countries launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA) which supports
third countries in the solar programme. Under the STAR-C Programme of ISA, a
Solar Academy was established in Senegal.
Giving a major fillip to space
cooperation, countries established a Strategic Space Dialogue in June 2023. Furthering
the partnership, countries inked a letter of intent on a defence-space
partnership and an MoU was sealed between New Space India Limited (NSIL) and
Ariane Space on satellite launches. Countries also signed framework cooperation
agreements in science and technology, health care, public administration and
urban development3.
Countries are now expanding
cooperation in domains of clean energy, biodiversity, rail transportation,
science and technology, building Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), AI for
public good and innovation, nuclear energy, economic cooperation and cyber
preparedness. Indeed, Countries held the first India-France Cyber Security
Dialogue in January.
France affirmed support for India’s
candidacy for the International Energy Agency (IEA), ongoing trade negotiations
for the India-EU FTA and permanent membership of the UNSC. Supporting India’s
bid for the Olympics, France offered to share expertise in the organisation of
major international sporting events.
Under the ambit of Partnership for
People, France intends to attract 30,000 Indian students every year. Through the
migration and mobility agreement, India and France have operationalised the
Young Professional Scheme for the accelerated movement of professionals. To
facilitate cross-border movement, France activated five-year Schengen visa
schemes for Indians who pursued at least one semester in France at the Master’s
Degree Level. As part of language promotion, from September 2024 Indian
students will be taught French at Universities before entering chosen
curricula. To foster people-to-people ties, India plans to set up a Consulate General
at Marseille and France will start a Bureau at Hyderabad.
Exchanging concerns over regional and
global issues, India and France condemned the October 7 attack on Israel and
expressed solidarity with the people of Israel. Leaders emphasised the need to
respect international humanitarian law and create conditions for a humanitarian
ceasefire. They called for the unconditional release of all hostages and a
political process leading to a two-state solution for lasting peace and
stability. Interestingly, amid the Gaza war, countries reaffirmed the strategic
importance of the India-Middle East- Europe Corridor (IMEC) and Modi welcomed
the appointment of Macron as special envoy for the project.
Countries expressed concerns over the
ongoing Ukraine war that has impacted food security and the global economic
System. Regarding the Red Sea attacks, they necessitated the need to uphold
freedom of navigation and respect international law of the sea.
Taking the partnership to the next
level, countries have agreed to hold annual summits including during multilateral
summits to drive close cooperation and work closely amid challenges that emerge
in the flux of times regularly.
Middle powers, India and France share
similar concerns. Amid the sudden spurt of regional conflicts, enduring
partnerships with like-minded countries having common interests can help
address global challenges and explore new opportunities. Imbued with trust,
mutual respect and non-interference in domestic affairs, India and France have
steadily nurtured historical ties that have matured into a reliable strategic
partnership that a potential to reshape the geopolitical landscape.
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