By Manisha Ghosh
On the eve of G-7 summit, occurred from August 25- 26 at Biarritz, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to France upon the invitation of French President Emanuel Macron, to strengthen strategic ties in key sectors such as defence, nuclear energy, maritime cooperation and counter-terrorism. The bilateral summit between India and France that lasted from August 22-23 could be seen as a manifestation of the burgeoning profundity of partnership beyond economic and strategic sectors.
While addressing the Indian diaspora at the UNESCO building in Paris, Modi said that terrorism, corruption, nepotism and dynastic rule were being effectively tackled in ‘new India’ and his government is committed to take successive remarkable decisions “spasht niti, sahi disha (clear policy, right direction)” to uplift and direct new India in accord to country’s spirit, diversity and unity. For example,
Modi proudly beamed how successfully his government passed the bill against ‘Teen Talaaq’– the scar of married Muslim ladies. He was very optimistic that it has earned blessings of crores of ladies and would prove beneficial in eradicating such foul traditions in the divine Indian culture and heritage in the coming centuries.
The timing of this bilateral Indo-French summit accompanied by Modi’s successive visit to UAE and Baharain, thereafter followed by his engagement in the G-7 summit is a master stroke of the Indian Prime Minister. India recently played a major political gamble by confiscating the special status of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, a long disputed state between India and Pakistan. Whilst Islamabad is knocking the door of the entire major player’s of the world, even submitted dossier before the UN Security Council, questioning the prejudiced, authoritarian decision of this long unsolved dispute; consolidation of this Indo-French strategic affiliation could not have appeared at a better time for New Delhi where the two countries back support each other because of other common interests.
Indeed, India’s decision on Kashmir created some diplomatic intricacy with Pakistan who demanded an UN Security Council (UNSC) debate through its long term friend China. New Delhi was vigorously expecting international support, if not then silence regarding its decision for Jammu and Kashmir; after Modi personally informed each head of major powers- USA, China, Russia, UK and France via telephone. Initial silence was broken by US President Donald Trump, who expressed his desire to be a mediator in solving the Kashmir. Beijing didn’t blatantly condemned India’s decision and Moscow indicating it as an India’s internal matter. However, India was in a search of an overwhelming support from one of the key player’s and who else, rather than France should be the best option.
In recent decades, the Indo-French relationship has developed tremendously in fairly multifaceted domains from defence to culture, from economic benefits to strategic. During the French President Macron’s latest visit to India in 2018, the two countries signed 14 agreements covering defense, civil nuclear, and space, to climate change, clean energy, and urbanization. During Macron’s visit to India last year, the two countries signed 14 agreements covering these areas.
Moreover, among all the UNSC members, France has become one of the sturdiest partners of India in modern decades, a place that was once reserved for the Soviet Union/ Russia in the past. The latest unequivocal support from France at the UNSC attributing the J&K issue as an internal matter of India is the ultimate demonstration of Paris’s unyielding determination to stand with India. Amid India’s dodgy relation with UK, USA volatile decision in the Trump era, growing closeness of Russia with Pakistan and China and China’s never ending stand against India, New Delhi in reality, do not have any clout in forums like the UNSC, rather than France. Hence, the overwhelming French support is a breather for India and also a window to showcase its voice.
Traditionally, India is reluctant to engage in bilateral alliance with any country, however, the Indian Prime Minister in Paris said “Today in the 21st century, we talk of INFRA. I would like to say that for me it is IN+FRA, which means the alliance between India and France.” Both countries envision to important maritime protection and outer space stand out. During his August summit, Narendra Modi ensured that India and France will abide by all international law particularly in maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight, piracy, weapons and human trafficking, illegal fishing and smuggling.
Both the countries decided to proactively use outer space assets aware maritime domains and develop awareness. The agreed to engage in areas like high resolution earth observation, space sphere and situational responsiveness, satellite steering, human exploration of space and transportation, most of these are to monitor the Indian Ocean maritime space. Additionally, both countries agreed to envisage a joint action plan to revolutionize maritime dynamics with greater focus on information sharing, data coding and decoding and regional security.
Paris have agreed to extend help to India in its maritime exploration and further strengthening by providing technological, satellite, training and accessory supports. In this regard, Modi also urged that “collective action and cooperation will best advance peace and security in our maritime region.” India indeed seeked help of technologically advanced countries like France and USA in ensuring a steady maritime arrangement while amplifying their capability to react against natural disasters.
Moreover, France has currently become one of the major sources of procuring defense systems and materials. India recently has ordered the 36 French Rafale fighters Jet for the Indian Air Force as India’s Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft. Additionally under the ‘Make in India’ program, Dassault, the manufacturer of Rafale, also agreed to build another 126 Rafales in the Indian Soil. India is also a customer for the Scorpene submarines and a host of other items.
Hence it’s evident that both the countries have engaged intensifying the warmth of their relationships being ally without following any proper formal procedure. Inter dependency in various sectors have made the two countries understand the importance of engaging together in mutual support and it appears that they will back each other in case of emergency. Therefore it has increased one ‘s importance to the other.
(The views expressed in this article belong only to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of World Geostrategic Insights)
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