President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India as the guest of honor for the Republic Day celebrations undoubtedly had a ceremonial dimension, but in relations between nations, ceremonial acts are often associated with due honor, It conveys a message on many levels, including importance and investment in the nation. future, expected benefits, signals to others, etc.
When Prime Minister Modi received congratulations from President Joe Biden during his visit to the US in June 2023, it sent a strong political message at the bilateral and international level that the US seeks larger strategic objectives from India. Ceremonies are part of diplomacy and are not without substance.
Prime Minister Modi himself was the guest of honor for Bastille Day 2023 in Paris (July 14). The honor signaled France’s desire to forge stronger all-round ties with India. This was an investment in India’s future given its growing economy, diplomatic skills and common strategic interests, especially in the Indo-Pacific. Build more common ground with India on the issue of climate change, which is a key area of debate and concern in French society (Modi and Macron, in their joint statement, set out a nationally determined goal) India’s offer to host COP 33 in 2028 is a key goal for France. To that end, we are leveraging France’s capabilities to foster collaboration with India’s growing capabilities in defense, advanced technology and the digital realm, and to use India as a springboard to become more vocal and demanding about its own policies. We are trying to reach out further to the Global South. Benefits to the world system hitherto dominated by the West.
As India moves closer to the US and its Quad members, France, which has major stakes in the Indo-Pacific, is trying to carve out its own role without being subsumed by the US-led structure. This is to demonstrate its obsession with “strategic autonomy.” India is an obvious partner in pursuing this. For India, a close strategic partnership with France in the Indo-Pacific region is an important step in diplomatic efforts to send the message that security concerns in the region are shared not only by the United States, Australia, and Japan, but also by major European powers. important. The joint statement emphasized the importance of the Indo-Pacific region to the respective sovereign and strategic interests of France and India.
The joint statement clearly states that “the defense and security partnership is the cornerstone of the Indo-French partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.” This makes sense because the region’s security threats emanate from China. Indeed, in his dinner address, President Macron referred to the activities of “some hegemonic powers” in the Indo-Pacific. The two countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the southwest Indian Ocean, building on joint monitoring missions to be conducted from La Réunion in 2020 and 2022. Importantly, India plans to expand these exchanges in its maritime neighbourhoods, and actively contribute to securitization. Strategic sea lane communications. The two countries also committed to revitalizing trilateral cooperation with Australia, deepening cooperation with the UAE and exploring new cooperation in the region. The two countries agreed to explore opportunities to coordinate economic projects and programs in the Pacific, representing an extension of India’s role in the Indo-Pacific.
“Since the declaration of their strategic partnership in 1998, India and France have developed a partnership of extraordinary trust and confidence, consistency and strength,” the joint statement said. The word “exceptional” is noteworthy. References to “strategic autonomy” and “shared commitment to a multipolar world” may seem like predictable phrases, but both countries exercise some degree of independence at a strategic level in line with their national interests. It conveys the desire of both countries to do so. For example, President Macron is of the view that the US policy on Taiwan is unnecessarily provocative and that France does not want to follow the US in such questionable policies. This means that France understands India’s decision to protect its strategic relationship with Russia, even though France itself is at odds with Russia over the Ukraine conflict. The language on the Ukraine conflict in the joint statement is prudent and does not deviate from India’s established position.
India and France have long expressed their commitment to a multipolar world. For France, that means not a world completely dominated by the United States, but a world in which Europe plays a strategic role independently of the United States, based on its own priorities and interests, even in partnership with the United States when necessary. For India, multipolarity is essential to rebalancing the world, achieving reforms to the United Nations, IMF, and World Bank, and increasing the emphasis on developing countries in international governance. India has joined her BRICS and the SCO supports multipolarization for this purpose. India, of course, emphasizes Asia’s multipolarization as an important step toward a multipolar world.
The joint statement affirms France’s support for India’s candidacy for the International Energy Agency. The two countries agreed to start a comprehensive dialogue on global issues. The joint statement stated the urgent need for reform of the UN Security Council and the early start of text-based negotiations at the UN’s Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN).
President Macron congratulated Prime Minister Modi for his leadership in launching the historic initiative of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) on the sidelines of the G20 Summit to be held in Delhi in September 2023. Prime Minister Modi welcomed President Macron’s appointment of a special envoy for the project. However, in view of the Gaza conflict, this project will have to be shelved for the time being. While expressing solidarity with the Israeli people, both men condemned the significant loss of civilian life in the ongoing conflict, and expressed their commitment to respecting international humanitarian law and ensuring that aid is provided to Israel through humanitarian ceasefires and other means. He emphasized the need to create conditions for flow. affected residents of the Gaza Strip. Both leaders expressed grave concern about the possibility of further escalation of the conflict in the region, and stated that lasting peace and stability in the region requires a political process leading to a two-state solution for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. I reconfirmed something. In the Red Sea.
Dating back to the 1950s, defense has always been an important part of India-France relations. Cynics tend to say that France is exaggerating its relationship with India for the sole purpose of selling more arms. This assumes that India has little agency in the matter and is being manipulated into purchasing French defense equipment. In reality, India sees France as a valuable defense partner, is increasingly willing to transfer technology, and has no reason to impose sanctions on India other than the fact that its defense products are expensive but of high quality. We have never added any conditions or imposed conditions on the sale of weapons.
The joint statement praised the overall progress made in the defense and security partnership, which is seen as a “key pillar of the partnership and a source of strengthening the sovereignty and strategic autonomy of both countries.” It ranges from intelligence and information exchange to exercises and equipment, and spans everything from the ocean floor to space. Macron and Modihave reiterated their commitment to further deepen integration between the two countries’ respective defense industrial sectors and to work together to meet both countries’ defense needs, as well as identify opportunities for co-design, co-development and co-production. expressed. It can provide viable and reliable defense resources not only to the Indian Army but also to other friendly nations.
To this end, the two leaders welcomed the adoption of an ambitious defense industry roadmap. The exact contents of this roadmap have not been disclosed, but it appears to open the door to ambitious collaborations in sensitive areas. These include the Rafale engine MRO, a comprehensive helicopter partnership with HAL and Safran’s IMRH engine joint venture, and plans to add an Indian-built Scorpene submarine (including indigenization). India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and France’s Directorate General of Arms (DGA) are expected to sign a memorandum of agreement at the earliest.
In space, it is envisioned to jointly develop, manufacture and launch satellites and payloads, research new launch vehicle technologies and reusable launch vehicles, and bring together startups and users from both countries. The MoU between NSIL and Arianespace aims to build a long-term partnership in satellite launch missions. Prime Minister Modi and President Macron also welcomed the signing of a letter of intent on defense and space cooperation, which is likely to have very substantial military content.
When it comes to the Jaitapur nuclear power plant project, the issue of extremely high unit costs seems almost intractable. While the French side wanted positive moves towards implementation, India was reluctant to invest further funds in the mechanism proposed for this purpose. In the end, as a compromise, it was agreed that a special committee on nuclear energy would be convened within three months within the framework of the Indo-France Strategic Dialogue. On the issue of small modular reactors (SMRs), potential for cooperation exists as India needs to strengthen its indigenous SMR capabilities.
The two leaders expressed their satisfaction at the close cooperation through the jointly launched International Solar Alliance to support solar power projects in third countries. Both leaders welcomed the agreement to support the establishment of a Solar Academy in Senegal through joint research and development.
Airbus has decided to start assembling civilian helicopters (H125) in India in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems. The company will be the first private company to manufacture helicopters in India in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat strategy. Airbus is also increasing orders for aircraft parts in India for assembly plants in Europe. Indian airlines have ordered large numbers of Airbus planes. France, which has experienced technology theft by China, is reluctant to manufacture aircraft in India as Airbus has done in China.
In a meeting with selected Indian business leaders, President Macron urged Indian investment in France, where the government is considering legislation similar to the US anti-inflation law. Indian companies can invest in French high-tech companies, but do not need to take control of them. The scope of cooperation in AI was wide as India had a huge database and available human resources. Macron was not fully aware of the huge investments being made in India’s infrastructure development and was keen for French companies to join the sector.
Macron’s late-night visit to the Nizamuddin Auliya Mausoleum before leaving India was aimed at sending a message to voters back home about India’s Muslim minority. It was diplomatic on our part that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar accompanied him.
(Kanwar Sibal served as foreign minister and ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, France, and Russia, and deputy minister in Washington.)
Disclaimer: These are the author’s personal opinions.