On June 14,2024, Prime Minster Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to intensify strategic defence cooperation with an increased focus on the Make in India initiative while emphasising that a strong bilateral strategic partnership is crucial for a stable global order. Macron was the first world leader to meet PM Modi on the margins of the G7 Summit this year in Apulia. PM Modi who is attending the Outreach Session is set to hold bilateral meetings with several leaders including Rishi Sunak, British Prime Minister and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
France is India’s closest strategic partner in Europe and the two sides have built up close cooperation especially in security and defence. India is currently in negotiations with France to acquire 26 Rafale jets for the Indian Navy and earlier had procured 36 Rafale fighters under 2016 deal worth Euro 7.87 billion. Modi and Macron agreed to further intensify strategic defence cooperation with increased focus on Make in India said a readout from the External Affairs Ministry referring to the Indian initiative aimed at achieving greater self-reliance in key areas.
The two leaders exchanged views on key global and regional issues and emphasised that a strong and strategic partnership between India and France is crucial for stable and prosperous global order and agreed to work closely to make it scale greater heights,” the readout said. They also reviewed bilateral relations with a focus on Horizon 2047 roadmap and the Indo-Pacific Roadmap. Their discussions covered cooperation in defence, nuclear, space, education, climate action, digital infrastructure, connectivity and people to people ties.
Macon and Modi agreed to expand cooperation in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, critical and emerging technologies, energy, sports, and to work closely in the context of the forthcoming AI Summit and United Nations Ocean’s conference, which will be hosted in France in 2025. PM Modi thanked Macron for his wishes on assuming office for a third term. He also conveyed his best wishes to Macron for the forthcoming Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
During PM Modis visit to France last July, the two sides signed raft of agreements to deepen defence cooperation including pacts for three submarines for the Indian Navy and development of jet and helicopter engines. Following the success of India’s P-75 or Scorpene Submarines construction program, state run Mazagon Dockyard Limited and France Naval group signed an MoU for building three additional Scorpene submarines.
The two sides are jointly developing a combat aircraft engine under the Horizon 2047 roadmap. This project is being implemented by France’s Safran and India’s DRDO. India’s HAL is developing an engine for India’s multirole helicopter programme with Safran. Defence Cooperation is a key pillar in India France relations and the two sides are working on the co-production of military platforms that meet not only their own needs but those of friendly third countries.
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