Source: This post on India-France Bilateral Cooperation has been created based on the article “What makes the India-France ‘strategic partnership’ tick” published in “The Hindu” on 1st February 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 International Relations – Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
News: The article discusses the areas of cooperation in the India-France Bilateral Relations.
A detailed article on India-France Bilateral Relations can be read here.
Background:
French President Macron recently visited India as the Chief Guest for the Republic Day Parade. According to the author, it highlights the personal ties that he and Indian PM have established, and the importance of the Indo-French relationship.
What are the areas of cooperation in the India-France Bilateral Relations?
| Shared Values
| a. Both countries espouse multipolarity. This forms a natural convergence with India’s ambitions of seeking strategic autonomy. b. Both France and India share a common ‘civilisation exceptionalism’ (being unique). |
| Defence Sector Cooperation | a. Collaboration between Safran and DRDO for producing an aircraft engine for India’s 5th generation aircraft with 100% transfer of technology is proposed. b. 6 Scorpene submarines have been built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited with transfer of technology from France. c. Joint exercises between the navies, air forces and the armies have been instituted. d. Agreement for 36 Rafale aircraft was concluded. e. A further acquisition of 3 more Scorpenes with enhanced features of air-independent-propulsion and 26 Rafale M aircraft for India’s new aircraft carrier was made. |
| Space Sector Cooperation | a. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the French Space Agency (CNES) work on joint missions. b. MoU was signed by NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO, and French satellite launch company Arianespace for collaboration on space launches. c. Both are looking to work together in optimising space defence domain awareness. |
| People-to-People Contacts | a. The target for Indian students going to France for higher education is now 30,000 by 2030. b. The Young Professionals Scheme under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement is being operationalised. c. UGC’s permission for foreign universities setting up campuses in India will ensure French universities can have presence in India. |
| Economic Cooperation
| a. There are nearly 1,000 French companies in India while nearly 150 Indian businesses have established a presence in France. b. France can become an entry point for Indian companies to Europe post-Brexit. |
| Miscellaneous
| a. Joint working groups on agriculture, environment, civil aviation, IT and telecom, urban development, transportation, culture and tourism have been set up over the years. b. Cooperation has expanded to include counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and cyber-security issues. c. Convergence on global challenges such as climate change, reform of multilateral development institutions, globally beneficial AI, and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza is also evolving. |
According to the author, the strategic partnership between India and France does not require convergence on all issues, but sensitivity to each other’s interests. This is where India-France ties reflect maturity and resilience.
Question for practice:
France has emerged as one of India’s most important strategic partner in recent years. Elaborate.
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