All about India-France strategic dialogue, 10 points

India-France strategic dialogue is being held in New Delhi today. Tweeting about the significance of the strategic ties, French President Emmanuel Macron in 2018 said France "wants to make India out first strategic partner in the region".

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All about India-France strategic dialogue, 10 points
India and France holds annual strategic dialogue in New Delhi on Thursday. (Photo: Tweeted by French President Emmanuel Macron in March 2018)

India and France are holding their annual strategic dialogue in New Delhi on Thursday. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval is leading the Indian side while French President Emmanuel Macron’s diplomatic advisor Emmanuel Bonne is heading the visiting delegation. On his last visit to India in 2019, Bonne had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The external affairs ministry in its release on Wednesday said, “The two sides will hold discussions on wide-ranging bilateral and global issues. Emmanuel Bonne will also call on other Indian dignitaries. The last edition of the Strategic Dialogue was held in February 2020 in Paris.”

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Setting the tone for the India-France strategic dialogue, French ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain on New Year’s Day said France was eager to work with India to uphold international law, fight terror and defend multilateralism while welcoming India’s stint at the UN Security Council.

"The purpose is to make India our first strategic partner in the region and I want you to make France your first strategic partner in Europe and in the West world. We share the same vision of the world," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter in 2018 while highling India-France strategic ties.

INDIA-FRANCE STRATEGIC DIALOGUE: 10 POINTS

1. The India-France strategic dialogue is held annually with the two countries alternating as hosts. The last India-France strategic dialogue was held in Paris in February 2020 just before the Covid-19 pandemic forced the world into a lockdown.

2. The key focus areas of the talks this year are Covid-19 vaccines, cooperation within the Indo-Pacific area, nuclear, space, maritime safety, environment, digital economy, and defence sectors.

3. France has an emphatic presence in the Indian Ocean region. Its overseas territories of Reunion Island and Mayotte island makes it a stakeholder in the region, which is fast developing into a theatre of geostrategic power-play. The overseas territories of France give it an area of 28 lakh sq km in the Indian Ocean as Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the UNCLOS treaty of 1982.

Read: India and France commit to freedom of navigation in Indian Ocean

4. France has emerged as a key partner of India in the Indian Ocean in recent years. Recently, India signed a logistics sharing agreement with France. This enables India and France to use each other's military facilities. This is significant in the view of China’s growing interest and capability in the Indian Ocean under Xi Jinping.

5. China has increased its stake in the Indian Ocean region with its presence in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Djibouti. India’s agreement with France could be a deterrent to the growing ambitions of China as the French Navy has permanent bases in Djibouti and Abu Dhabi besides in territories of Reunion Island and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean.

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6. India and France have robust economic and strategic ties for several decades. The bilateral bonding has strengthened in recent years with India deepening its military and defence ties with France. India has signed various agreements for the purchase of French defence platforms including fighter jets, helicopters, and submarines.

7. Demonstration of solidarity has been an important aspect of growing closeness between India and France. India promptly condemned the Paris knife attack over freedom of expression row in October 2020. India also extended diplomatic support to French President Emmanuel Macron when he was attacked by several Muslim countries including Pakistan and Turkey over his policies.

8. On economic front, the French companies have been among the top investors in India in the fields of renewable energy, defence, infrastructure and smart cities, and pharmaceuticals. At present, India-France trade stands at around $13 billion (2019) with India having a positive balance of trade.

9. The major French import (worth around $6 billion) comprises of helicopters, aero-planes, satellites and spacecraft launch vehicles while India’s exports (worth $7 billion) are more diversified with petroleum having the largest share of 17 per cent.

10. This year’s India-France strategic dialogue is more significant as the post-Covid-19 world looks to redefine its rules of international engagement. While China is trying to force its way taking advantage of the pandemic that emerged from its territory and spread to the rest of the world at a fast pace, the US is embroiled in political divisiveness and losing its world leader status. At the same time, Brexit is forcing Europe to realign itself afresh. India and France being among the major economies of the world are exploring the ways to a safe and secure future in the fasting globe.