Context: 

India and France celebrated  25 years of their strategic partnership  on Jan 26, 2023.

Few facts:

• The strategic partnership was signed in 1998.
• France has emerged as a key trading partner of India with annual trade of $12.42 billion in 2021­-22. 
• It is the 11th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative investment of $10.31 billion from April 2000 to June 2022, which represents 1.70% of the total foreign direct investment inflows into India.

France as a key defense partner for India:

• Became the second largest defence supplier in 2017­- 2021. 
• Emerged as a major strategic partner for India with crucial defence deals and increased military to military engagement.

• For Example:
• • induction of the French Scorpene conventional submarines, being built in India under technology transfer agreement of 2005.
  • The Indian Air Force received 36 Rafale fighter jets. 
  • The Tata group has also tied up with Airbus to manufacture C­295 tactical transport aircraft in Vadodara, Gujarat. 
• Regular holding of joint military exercises — Varuna (navy), Garuda (air force), and Shakti (army)

Other areas of cooperation: 

• France was among the first countries with which India signed a civil nuclear deal. 
• Paris also played a critical role in limiting India’s isolation in the non-­proliferation order after the 1998 nuclear tests. 
• France supports India’s bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council as well as its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group. 
• India has supported France in the Paris Agreement expressing its strong commitment towards mitigating climate change impact. 
• New Delhi and Paris, as part of their joint efforts on climate change, launched the International Solar Alliance in 2015.
• While there are divergences over the Ukraine crisis, there is a broad understanding of each other’s position and both countries are working together to coordinate on playing a constructive role in the crisis.
• Both countries share concerns over the rise of China and its aggressive behavior, regionally and globally.

Maritime ties:

• In 2018, the leadership of both countries welcomed the “Joint Strategic Vision of India­France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region” which presented a blueprint for a strengthening of ties. 
• In operational terms, Franco­-Indian joint patrolling in the Indian Ocean signals New Delhi’s intent to engage with like minded partners in expanding its footprint in the Indian Ocean.
• Both countries have articulated their common vision for a free, fair and open Indo Pacific. 
• Both countries share a comprehensive strategy for the Indo-­Pacific (it seeks to provide comprehensive solutions for maritime security, regional cooperation, climate change adaptation)
•  India and France in 2022 agreed to set up an IndoPacific Trilateral Development Cooperation Fund that will support sustainable innovative solutions for countries in the region. 
• They have formed a trilateral grouping with the United Arab Emirates to ensure maritime domain awareness and security from the east coast of Africa to the far Pacific.

Conclusion: 

• In the marking of a long strategic partnership, a common interest in enhancing strategic autonomy and improving resilience, there is much ground ahead for further collaboration.

News Source: The Hindu

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