India and France: Strengthening Strategic Partnership for a Secure and Prosperous Future

As an important partner of India, France has been able to increase its defense sales. It was ranked as the second-largest supplier of arms to the country in 2017-2021. Significant defense deals and India's increasing military activity have made France a vital partner of the country. Following the UK-US-Australia security alliance's establishment, France has expressed its desire to step up its cooperation with India. Unfortunately, this agreement excluded France from a multi-billion-dollar submarine deal. Despite the setback, France still remains committed to strengthening its security and defense partnership with India. The two countries have also agreed to step up their operational cooperation and intelligence sharing. They also plan to launch new initiatives related to cyber, maritime, and space. Their successful collaboration on an international alliance for solar energy has created a foundation for their cooperation in this sector. In addition to the induction of the Scorpene submarines, France also delivered 36 fighter jets to the Indian Air Force. These aircraft were built in India. Moreover, the Tata group partnered with Airbus to produce the C-295 transport aircraft in Gujarat.

The strategic partnership of India and France focuses on various areas of cooperation, such as space, civil nuclear, and defense. The two countries also regularly participate in various other areas of cooperation, such as climate change. Furthermore, as a strong supporter of India's candidature for the permanent membership of the UN Security Council, France has consistently supported the country's efforts. It also supports India's bid to join the four multilateral export control regimes, namely the NSG, the MTER, the WA, and the AG. Supporting India's bid for membership in the NSG has been a key component of France's engagement with the country. It also contributes to the development of the multilateral agreement on international terrorism. In March 2018, President Macron of France visited India. The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to fight against terrorism. They also condemned the various forms of terrorism and their manifestations.

Trade between France and India:

As a significant trading partner of India, France's annual trade with the country has increased to over $12 billion in 2021. It is also the 11th-largest foreign investor in the country. From April 2000 to June 2022, France has invested over $10 billion in India. This makes it the 1st largest foreign investor in the country. The two countries have maintained a positive relationship, even though they don't have a free trade agreement yet.

France was one of the first countries to sign a civil nuclear deal with India. Through this agreement, Paris played a vital role in helping India become a part of the international non-proliferation community. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, France supports India's bid for a permanent seat at the organization. It also supports the country's entry into the nuclear Suppliers Group. While Climate change is a major issue that both India and France are concerned about. Through the Paris Agreement, India has shown its commitment to helping address this issue. In 2015, India and France launched the International Alliance for Solar Technology. This was a step toward further enhancing their cooperation in this field.

Education, Tourism, and Post-COVID Collaboration:

One of the most important factors that India and France can consider when it comes to enhancing their cooperation is the establishment of a comprehensive academic exchange program. This will allow students and teachers from both the sides to interact and study each other. The two nations also plan to work together in the post-COVID era to promote their cooperation in various fields.

Maritime Ties:

The vision of the joint strategic partnership of India and France for the Indian Ocean Region outlines a framework for enhancing their cooperation. The growing number of joint patrols by India and France in the Indian Ocean shows the countries' commitment to expanding their reach in this region. Both the countries' commitment to establishing a free, open, and transparent Indo-Pacific has been instrumental in the development of their maritime security cooperation. In September 2022, the two countries agreed to establish a trilateral development fund for the Indo-Pacific region. It will provide support to developing innovative solutions for other countries. The trilateral agreement between India, France, and the UAE aims to enhance the security and awareness of maritime activities in the Indian Ocean and beyond. France and India are concerned about the growing presence of China in the Indian Ocean. With its numerous strategic bases and overseas territories, France is well-positioned to capitalize on its maritime advantage within the Indo-Pacific. To counter the growing influence of China in the region, both nations should work together to strengthen their maritime capabilities.

Energy and Environment:

In recent years, the space collaboration between India and France has continued to grow. Several notable developments have been witnessed in this field. In 2020, the space agencies of France and India collaborated to establish a joint working group to develop their space collaboration. This was an important step in the two countries' efforts to enhance their joint space programs. And in 2020, the Indian Space Research Organization and the French space agency CNES announced that they would be working together on a joint mission to explore Mars. Both the countries have been working together to address the issue of space debris. In 2021, the Indian Space Research Organization and CNES announced that they would be working together to launch a joint mission to study the climate and atmosphere of Earth.

During their recent summit, the leaders of France and India committed themselves to work together to address the climate change issue in a stronger manner. They also discussed the possibility of establishing a joint research and development framework to address the environmental issues. One of the most important factors that India and France consider when it comes to addressing the climate change issue is the development of renewable energy. Both the countries have maintained their support for the ISA's objectives. Both have a common interest in addressing the environmental and energy conservation issues. They have also discussed the possibility of signing a major agreement to build nuclear power reactors. Their cooperation in this field is evidenced by the establishment of an international alliance for solar projects. The Year of the Environment of the Indo-French is dedicated to various environmental issues, including conservation, climate change, energy efficiency, and biodiversity conservation.

Challenges in India-France relationship:

·        The two leaders also talked about the need for a comprehensive free trade agreement between their countries. However, due to the current political situation in India, the FTA has not yet been signed.

·        The India-EU Broad-Based Trade and Investment Agreement also remains stalled.

·        Despite the close defense partnership between India-France, their approach to security and defense cooperation still differs.

·        France's international interests are sometimes affected by India's non-alignment policy and its emphasis on its neighborhood.

·        As a significant trade partner, India and France have a trade imbalance. France is more likely to export to India than other ways around.

·        The imbalance has become a cause of concern for India. Both the countries are working toward finding ways to resolve it.

·        France has expressed its concerns about the inadequate protection of intellectual property rights in India, which has affected the operations of its companies in the country.

·        China's growing influence in the Indian Ocean has been a cause of concern for both France and India. It could potentially affect the region's stability and balance of power.

The path for India and France to develop their relationship is one that involves expanding trade and investment, strengthening their defense cooperation, addressing energy security and climate change, and fostering technological and scientific collaboration. To strengthen the defense partnership between India and France, regular joint exercises and the transfer of technology are some of the ways that the two countries can improve their capabilities. Cultural exchange programs can also help improve the understanding of each other. They can also work together on projects related to the environment. Also, science and technology cooperation can help India and France develop a more prosperous future.

Conclusion:

As part of its strategy for the Indo-Pacific region, France has been emphasizing its partnership with India. The strategic alliance between these two countries can help strengthen the region's stability and peace. By capitalizing on each other's strengths, India and France can promote knowledge sharing, innovation, and collaboration, which can lead to a secure and prosperous future for the region and beyond. As the post-COVID era dawns, India and France will forge ahead with their respective agendas and explore new avenues of collaboration. They aim to work together to address global environmental issues and promote sustainable growth. Over the years, the India-France relationship has developed significantly. The two countries' trade has continued to grow. The recent discussions about the India-EU trade agreement are aimed at facilitating the expansion of their economic partnership. Therefore, extending beyond bilateral cooperation, the India-France partnership encompasses addressing the shared challenges within the Pacific rim and the Indo-Asia region. Both nations express their concerns regarding the growing influence of China, emphasizing the importance of coordinating and cooperating to maintain regional stability.

The India-France relationship has been characterized by numerous achievements. Some of these include the establishment of an international solar alliance, the development of joint procurement agreements for defense equipment, and the exploration of space. These actions have helped strengthen India's capabilities and instilled trust and understanding between the two nations in each other. The India-France strategic partnership has become a crucial part of the country's approach to the Indo-Pacific region. It is regarded as one of the leading countries in the region. The two nations' recent strategic dialogues have highlighted their commitment to work together in various domains, such as education, tourism, energy, defense, trade, and environment.

Pic Courtsey-Navy Twitter handle

(The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)