18 July 2023, NIICE Commentary 8707
Subarna Moni Pradhan
On 14 July, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France as a guest of honor on France’s National Day (also known as Bastille Day). This showcase the strength of their relationship and indicates the further deepening of their ties in days to come.
Evolution of India-France Ties
The ties between the Indian and French can be traced back to 17th century, when Francios Bernier (the French physician) came to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and served him as personal physician for 12 years. In 1998, India and France entered into the strategic partnership which is emblematic of their convergence of views on a range of international issues apart from a close and growing bilateral relationship. The strategic partnership constitutes of the three principal pillars-the areas of defence cooperation, space cooperation and civil nuclear cooperation. Apart from this traditional security cooperation, both the nations have actively engaged in areas of cooperation like climate change, sustainable growth and development and the international solar alliances amongst many other.
Strategic, Defence and Space Cooperation
After the Pokhran-II Operation Shakti in 1998 (when India became a nuclear weapon state), France was the first nation to come in cooperation and followed an independent policy towards India, despite the sanctions imposed by the US. This paved way for the Strategic Partnership between India and France. The strategic partnership between the France and India involves a close cooperation in the sectors of defence, civil nuclear energy, space and security. France is a key partner in the development of a self-reliant defence and technological base and both nations are committed to cooperation in co-development and co-production of advance defence technologies. France has supported the India’s claim for the permanent membership at the Security Council and the reforms of the United Nations and its candidature for all the membership of all Multilateral Export Control Regimes-Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) and the Australia Group (AG). Currently, India is member of three Multilateral Export Control Regimes except the NSG.
In January 2008, India and France signed a ‘Framework Agreement for Civil Nuclear Cooperation’ which paved way for Franc to sell its nuclear reactor to India. France is the second largest defence supplier to India after Russia and it accounts for 27 percent of India’s defence supplies. 36 Rafale jets from French Dassult Aviation has been procured by India which has robust the Indian Airforce. In recent visit, India and France took their defence cooperation to a new level by extending their ground-breaking cooperation in advance aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint venture of combat aircraft engine and engine for the Indian multi-role helicopter (IMRH) being designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. This is a major boost to Indian ‘Make in India’ venture for defence manufacturing. However, the ratio/percentage of Transfer of Technology was not revealed. France Naval Group and Indian Defence Public Sector undertaking Mazagon Dockward ltd has hailed the success of first Scorpene submarine construction programme (P75-Kalvari).
France and India also participate in joint military exercise for positive operational interaction which improve the capabilities of different forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) in a varieties of different warfighting areas. Shakti, Varuna and Garuda are the joint military exercise between the Indian and French army, naval and air forces respectively. In March 2023, Indian army and French army hold their maiden Joint Military Exercise FRINJEX at Pangode Military Station, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This exercise was aimed at enhancing inter-operability, coordination and cooperation between the forces at tactical level. The establishment and operationalization of a joint command post to secure an envisaged area for undertaking joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief was the scope of this exercise.
Likewise, in terms of space cooperation, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the French National Space Agency (CNES) have the Joint Vision for Space cooperation which focuses on space science technology and applications and includes sounding rocket development, liquid engine development, hosting of payloads, joint satellite realization, training programmes, and satellite launches. French space launch Arianespace has been providing major launch services to India Geo-Stationary Satellites. To further enhance the space cooperation, in the recent meeting, India and France made agreement between ISRO and CNES on Conjunction Analysis and Evaluation Service: Alerts and Recommendations (CAESAR) and the use of Exert Modules of JAVA for Assessment of Conjunction (JAC) software.
Indo-Pacific and Maritime Cooperation
The India and France partnership in the Indian Ocean has been an important focus of bi-lateral relationship. In 2018, India and France agreed on a ‘Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. Modi’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the region) has been the main focus of this cooperation. This cooperation is comprehensive and outline the defence, security, economic, connectivity, infrastructure, sustainability, human centric development and most importantly this bilateral cooperation supports the advancement of rule of international law and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region. With an assertive China flexing muscle in the region, Modi and French president Emmanuel Macron believes that the India-France partnership will be a crucial pillar of the inter-connected and intersecting arrangements in the Indo-Pacific region and indispensable for a peaceful and prosperous future for the Indo-Pacific region.
In recent visit, the leaders also asserted that they will strengthen maritime security coordination through the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in India, European Maritime Awareness in The Strait of Hormuz (EMASoH) in UAE and Atalanta, Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) in Seychelles, Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) in Madagascar and The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) in Singapore. The leaders also asserted that India and France will work together to extend development to the countries in the region including those in Africa, the Indian Ocean region, south Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Conclusion
The Strategic Partnership and Joint Strategic Vision Cooperation between India and France has provided India with great prospect of economy, connectivity, research and innovation, sustainable management of oceans and most significantly defence and security. Likewise, France has gained significant strategic position in South Asia and South-East Asia and particularly in the Indo-pacific region. The cooperation has boosted the India’s ‘Make in India’ defence manufacturing industrial base. However, the question still lies with regard to Transfer of Technology in defence procurement and India’s efficiency to produce technology related to defence and space innovation in time and cost efficiency. In defence and security cooperation, India and France have differentiated priorities despite having a strong defence partnership. The Chinese involvement in the Indian Ocean region is major concern for both nations as China have the potential to disrupt the regional balance power and undermine regional stability and security.
Subarna Moni Pradhan is a Doctoral Candidate at the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies and Management, Sikkim Central University, India.
