This week remained a mix bag for the global affairs and international relations. Amid the unfortunate news of violence in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, India’s visit of the French President, Emmanuel Macron, to grace the occasion of the Republic Day celebrations, opened a new door for positive discussions and opportunities in international relations. Both India and France have been working as trusted strategic partners since 1998, and after the official visit of Indian Prime Minister to France in the month of July 2023, this visit denotes many positive developments for the entire world.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India for Republic Day celebrations highlights the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations. Last year, both the nations celebrated completion of 25 years of their fruitful and trusted strategic partnership. This visit is a testimony to the strengthening strategic partnership between India and France and underscores the growing cooperation in various sectors such as defence, security, space, and civil nuclear energy, education, trade and cultural exchanges. During his visit, President Macron participated in a road show in Jaipur, Rajasthan along with the Indian Prime Minister to showcase the trusted partnership between both the nations. He also paid a visit to Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal, the architypes of ancient Indian science and wisdom. His agenda would likely include high-level meetings with Indian leaders to discuss further collaboration and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. Additionally, the visit may witness the signing of important agreements and initiatives in areas such as defence cooperation, joint research in science and technology, information technology collaboration, education and sustainable development. This visit also serves as an opportunity for both nations to showcase their commitment to multilateralism and address key challenges such as climate change, energy security, terrorism, and promoting an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific as well as Indian Ocean regions.
Before this visit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France last year from 14-16 July and graced France’s Bastille Day (National Day) celebrations on 14 July as the guest of honour along with the Indian contingent. This honour denoted the trusted and time-tested partnership of France with India. In past 25 years, we can clearly see how France stood with India during its tough times. Apart from providing technological help in the domains of India’s civil nuclear programs, space technology and defence, France also supported India when it conducted its peaceful nuclear test in 1974 and 1998. Both the times, countries like the US opposed India. In 1974, both Canada and the US ended their nuclear engagement with India. But France, like a trusted friend, kept supporting India and provided fuel for India’s Tarapur nuclear plant. In 1998 also, when the US imposed sanctions on India, France vocally supported India and condemned the sanctions imposed by the US. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the French Space Agency (CNES) are engaged in many joint research programmes and satellite launches. Apart from Rafale, we must not forget that powerful Miraj fighter aircrafts were also provided by France to India. Also, France always remains vocal for providing permanent seat to India in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC); it also supports India in Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). On the other hand, India helped France in getting the membership of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
In all these years, France has become the second largest arms supplier to India. It is also helping India with its technology transfer so that India can develop jet engines on its own. Apart from strengthening the bilateral partnership, both India and the France are working meticulously on the prioritised global objectives. Present Israel-Hamas war, Russia-Ukraine war, the challenges coming from China in Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean, and the need to fight global terrorism and extremism provide both India and France to further develop their future roadmap of partnership. From climate change containment to promoting sustainable development, from boosting people-to-people connects to collaborating in the field of education, from the domain of digital transformation to co-developing innovative technologies and increasing trade, there are many areas of opportunities for both India and France to engage at both bilateral as well as multilateral level. Apart from India, France too is concerned about the security of Indo-Pacific as it is the only EU member nation, which has overseas territories in this region. Also, more than 90 percent of its exclusive economic zone is located in the Indian and Pacific oceans. More than 8000 French soldiers are deployed in Indo-Pacific region and that’s why the visit of Macron to India becomes more significant.
Though this is a multipolar, multilateral world where multiple actors, based on their priorities and complex-interdependence work together, bilateral focus still plays a focal role in promoting this culture of working together. On the other hand, the more an actor tries to run solo, more are the chances of its fall. India knows it well and hence instead of investing its energy in running solo, it engages and collaborates with the likeminded nations like France. This is the golden key of success in global politics; and the official visit of the French President to India will surely open new windows of opportunity for both the nations, as well as for the world.
The author is Professor, School of International Studies, JNU