India France Relationship
Recent Bond-Strengthening Efforts:
- Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership: The two governments have decided to create a collaborative project called the Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership.
- By gathering and exchanging regional experiences and skills among important Indo-Pacific public and private natural park managers, this collaboration aims to increase the Indo-Pacific region’s capacity for sustainable protected area management.
- Both parties agreed to the “India-France Roadmap on the Blue Economy and Ocean Governance.”
- Through institutional, economic, infrastructure, and scientific collaboration, the approach aims to strengthen blue economy alliances.
- They also agreed to deepen India-EU ties during France’s presidency, as well as the necessity of initiating free trade and investment discussions and executing the India-EU Connectivity Partnership.
- Strengthening Multilateralism: They also agreed to work together in the UN Security Council on issues of mutual concern.
- Both Ministers agreed to strengthen the Strategic Partnership in sectors like as trade and investments, defence and security, health, education, research and innovation, energy, and climate change.
- Facilitating People-to-People Contact: Agreed to complete a Joint Declaration of Intent in the Field of Sports as soon as feasible to enhance people-to-people contact.
- Long-term cooperation between the competent authorities on public management and administrative changes.
What are the areas where India and France collaborate?
Background:
- In January 1998, India and France announced a “strategic alliance,” which was one of the first after the Cold War ended.
- France was one of the few nations to support India’s choice to test nuclear weapons in 1998.
- France has emerged as India’s most trustworthy partner in the areas of terrorism and Kashmir.
Defence Cooperation:
- Both countries hold a defence debate at the ministerial level.
- Drill Shakti is a regular defence exercise for the three military branches (Army, Navy, and Air Force) (Air Force)
- The French Rafale multi-role combat aircraft was recently delivered to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
- In 2005, India and a French business signed a technology transfer agreement to build six Scorpene submarines in India’s Malegaon dockyards.
- A Reciprocal Logistics Support Agreement was also inked by the two countries.
Economic and trade relations between two countries:
- The Administrative Economic and Trade Committee (AETC) between India and France provides an adequate structure for reviewing and developing strategies to boost bilateral trade and investment while also accelerating market access concerns for the advantage of economic operators.
- The global agenda includes climate change, biodiversity, renewable energy, terrorism, cybersecurity, and digital technologies.
- There have been joint attempts to limit climate change and build the International Solar Alliance.
- A cybersecurity and digital technology road map has been agreed upon by both countries.
Steps to Follow:
- France has cleared the way for more engagement with Europe on global issues, especially in light of the BREXIT uncertainty in the region.
- New collaborations with France, Germany, and other like-minded countries, such as Japan, for example, might boost India’s global impact tremendously.