In a recent visit, the Indian Prime Minister was invited as the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade in France. The event was marked with both Rafale jets from the Indian Air Force and an Indian tri-services marching contingent participating in the parade. An important outcome of the visit was a joint statement titled “25th Anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between France and India: towards a Century of Indo-French Relations”. This serves as a pathway for the bilateral ties until 2047 and aims to strengthen the partnership for security and sovereignty, the planet, and the people.
Pillar 1: Enhancing Security and Sovereignty
Several key decisions were made to enhance security and sovereignty. Continuation of cooperation on fighter jets and submarines was agreed upon, building upon the earlier successes of the P75 program and the timely delivery of 36 Rafale jets. France’s CNES and India’s ISRO decided to enhance their scientific partnership with agreements on joint Earth observation satellite TRISHNA, maritime surveillance satellites, and protection of Indo-French satellites in orbit. Civil nuclear energy cooperation was also discussed with progress on Jaitapur’s power plant project and launch of a program on small reactors. A roadmap for the Indo-Pacific region involving joint actions was adopted, while counter-terrorism, critical technology, and civil aviation also formed part of the discussion.
Pillar 2: Partnership for the Planet and Global Issues
France and India pledged to adopt an international treaty to end plastic pollution. They signed a Letter of Intent on health and medicine to structure cooperation in hospitals, medical research, digital technology, public health, and combating micro-bacterial resistance. A partnership was launched under the Blue Economy and Ocean Governance roadmap joining IFREMER and NIOT to conduct ocean research. Financing announcements were made for India’s CITIIS 2.0 and South Asia Growth Fund (SAGF III). Steps were taken to manufacture electrolyzers in India for decarbonized hydrogen.
Pillar 3: Strengthening People Connection
The countries decided to increase student mobility with France aiming to welcome 30,000 Indian students by 2030. Both nations agreed to expand their diplomatic and consular network with the opening of a Consulate General of India in Marseille, France and Bureau de France in Hyderabad, India. An agreement was reached for the establishment of a new National Museum in India with France as the partner country. Funding for the Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research was increased to support new projects.
Other Highlights
France presented several cultural gifts to India, including a replica of the Charlemagne chessmen and a series of novels by Marcel Proust. The Indian Prime Minister received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour- France’s highest civilian and military honor. Importantly, the final joint statement did not mention any pact on buying Scorpene submarines or developing a combat aircraft engine.
Major Areas of Cooperation between India and France
The strategic partnership between India and France goes back to January 1998, with France being a supporter of India during the latter’s nuclear weapons test in 1998. Defense cooperation between the two nations has grown significantly with France being the second largest defence supplier for India from 2017 to 2021. Joint military exercises like Exercise Shakti, Exercise Varuna, and Exercise Garuda are regularly conducted. Economic cooperation has also seen growth with bilateral trade reaching USD 13.4 billion in 2022-23. France is India’s 11th largest foreign investor. In international forums, France supports India’s bid for permanent United Nations Security Council membership and entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Both countries have shown concern for climate change and in line with this, they launched the International Solar Alliance in 2015.
