India-France; The Strategic Partners And A True Friendship

India-France; The Strategic Partners And  A True Friendship [Credit-SAS Partners]

Showing 'true friendship,' French President Emmanuel Macron has come to India's rescue after the US indicated that President Joe Biden would not be able to attend India's 75th Republic Day celebration in 2024 as Chief guest.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had invited Biden to the R-Day event on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in September last year.

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A True Friendship Between India and France:

President Emmanuel Macron's presence will mark the sixth time when a French leader has been the Chief guest on Republic Day. It is the most number from any country.

A True Friendship Between India and France [Credit-Drishti IAS]

The spirit of friendship is exhilarated through the warm words of both leaders. President Macron tweeted.

"Thank you for.....my dear friend @ Narendra Modi...your Republic Day...will be there to celebrate..."

In a prompt response, PM Modi wrote,

"My dear friend President @EmmanualMacron.......eagerly looking forward......will also celebrate India-France's strategic partnership.......Bientot!."

Indian PM in July 2023 was the guest of honor at the Bastille Day parade in Paris. President Macron had also bestowed the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor on PM Narendra Modi. It is the highest civilian/military honor of France.

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Defense Cooperation Between France and India:

The defense cooperation between New Delhi and Paris demonstrates warmth in ties. Even it is showing a significant shift in military hardware. Paris is on its way to replacing Russia as the largest source of military hardware suppliers for New Delhi.

Today, France is the second-largest weapons supplier to India, with a 29 % share. Although Russia still shares 45 percent, it surpasses the US [11%] as per a report in March 2023 of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

France is also supplying, like Russia, fighter jets to submarines apart from other sub-systems. President Macron's visit comes when the two nations are about to sign two major defense deals.

Defense Cooperation Between France and India [Credit-Prepp]

The First is for 26 Rafale Marine jests for the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The second deal is for three additional Scorpene submarines. India received the price bids for the Rafale-Ms and three conventional submarines last December 2023.

However, the Rafale-M deal is processed through an inter-governmental agreement, the three-submarine deal is yet a follow-on to the earlier contract. The submarine contract occurred between France's Naval Group and the Mumbai-based Mazagon Dockyard Shipbuilders Ltd [MDL], which has manufactured six Scorpene-class submarines in India.

It is noticeable that the French Naval Group has shared critical submarine technology, and the MDL has learned a lot during the joint manufacturing. Defense officials said that while keeping the built-up infrastructure and expertise, delivery of the three next submarines will be faster.

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India-France Deep Rooted Strategic Partnership:

We must remember that France was the first country with which India established a 'Strategic' partnership in 1998. French President Jacques Chirac laid the stone when he was the chief guest of the R-Day parade. A strategic dialogue was initiated by both nations during the same year.

Even when India carried out the nuclear tests at  Pokhran that very year in May, France was the only P5 nation [Permanent member of the UNSC] to publicly support New Delhi.

Similarly, during the 1999 Kargil conflict, France openly held Pakistan responsible for their dangerous initiatives. In the year 2008, when the Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver allowed India nuclear trade, France also signed a civil nuclear deal. France has always supported India in its initiatives on counter-terrorism in Kashmir.

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Multifaceted Cooperation Between India and France:

In the light of above-given points, France is now considered a close ally of the country. India is an equally important country for France vis-a-vis security in the India Ocean Region [IOR] as well as the big market.

France considers India's strategic role to interface with the Global South. France is willing to transfer technologies for defense systems that India needs to become self-reliant in the military arena, as per the statement of the former Deputy Chief of Integrated Defense Staff.

Multifaceted Cooperation Between India and France [Credit-X]

Lt Gen. Anil Ahuja [Retd] shared instances of multiple cooperation between both countries. Safran Engines of France is helping Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd [HAL] in developing engines for the Indian multi-role Helicopter.

The French government has also approved Safran Company to jointly 'design, develop, test, manufacture, and certify' engines for India's fifth-generation stealth jet [Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft or AMCA] and Twin-Engine Deck Based Fighter [TED BF].

India and France are also cooperating in the space sector. Both countries are studying to develop a 'Constellation' of 8-10 satellites for maritime surveillance in the IOR.

Analysts believe the partnership enhances India's footprint in the Indian Ocean through French bases and presence in the Reunion Islands, Caledonia, French Polynesia, Djibouti, and UAE. India now secures its interests where it is not present in force.

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