Context: 

This editorial is based on the news “C Raja Mohan writes: As Modi meets Macron, the challenges that they will need to reflect on” which was published in Indian Express. The French President is the Chief Guest for this year’s Republic Day of India. 

• A bilateral meeting of the French President and Indian Prime Minister will also be held in Jaipur to discuss a range of economic and strategic issues, including possible fast-tracking of India-EU FTA negotiations. 

Areas of India France Cooperation

• Horizon 2047: An ambitious new framework to advance cooperation in many areas, including defense, space, and nuclear energy over the next quarter of a century.
• Strategic Autonomy: It has long provided an ideological bond between both the countries.
  • It has symbolized many things, including an independent foreign policy and maintaining political distance from the US.
• On Multipolarity: France pushed for it in the late 1990s. French leaders called for coalitions to limit the dangers of American unilateralism. India, too, was anxious about the dangers of a unipolar world and the potential harm that the US could do to India. 
• Support to India: France supported India’s integration into the global nuclear order. 
  • After India’s nuclear tests in 1998, France helped India deflect the non-proliferation pressures from the other members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). 
    • Recently, France has extended rock-like support in the UNSC in blocking China’s attempt to internationalize the Kashmir dispute in 2019.

Location of France

Current Challenges faced by the World

• Ukraine-Russia Conflict
  • The current war is about to complete its two years in February 2024.
  • It has profoundly impacted the geopolitical landscape, as great-power rivalries have again become central to international relations. With continuity in sight, it is exacerbating global divisions, an even more profound geopolitical reconfiguration — including a shift to a new world order.
• Israel-Hamas Conflict
  • The attacks on Red Sea shipping is one of the big effects on the global economy.
• The prospects of the return of Donald Trump to the White House
  • Due to his policies on America First policies, climate change, tariffs on imports, and demand for a renegotiation in engagement with the allies and partners. 

Significance of  French President Visit for India

• This visit marks continuing high-level political engagement from the Western chancelleries at a time when the liberal Anglo-Saxon media is targeting the India Government for the temple project and showing it as a deviation from secularism.

Conclusion

The time has come where regional powers in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia must step forward in addressing the current crises as well as develop long-term plans to stabilize Eurasia and its waters.