PM Modi Says France-India Defense Cooperation Is a Strong Foundation for Bilateral Relations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that France and India were looking into the possibility of developing and producing important military platforms together for export to friendly nations and stepping up their cooperation in space-based maritime awareness.

In the Elysee Palace, the French President’s official home, the two leaders had one-on-one and delegation-level discussions, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). They engaged in-depth conversations on a variety of topics related to bilateral cooperation, the statement said, including trade and investment, space exploration, civil nuclear power, science and technology, and people-to-people connections.

A plan to deepen India-France strategic relations for the next 25 years is being created, Modi, who is in town for a two-day official visit, said. Bold and ambitious objectives are on the horizon. According to Modi, a long-term deal on the import of LNG has been signed between French business Total and Indian Oil. This will help us in our efforts to switch to sustainable energy, he added.

By signing the implementation agreement for the joint earth observation satellite Trishna, which will track temperatures on land and in the seas and research climate change, the two sides also declared significant collaboration in the space industry. While NewSpace India Limited and Arianespace signed a memorandum of intent to work together on commercial launch services, the two nations also confirmed intentions for collaborative launcher development.

To chart the direction for their bilateral partnership up to 2047, both parties published a roadmap titled Horizon 2047. In addition, Prime Minister Modi said that France would be the first nation in Europe to use India’s Unified Payments Interface.

Modi also discussed French firms’ ambitions to establish MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facilities in India, develop helicopter engines, and produce spare parts. On Thursday, the defense ministry authorized plans to buy three French-designed Scorpene class submarines and 26 Naval Rafale fighters from France.

“A steadfast tenet of our tight relationship has been defense cooperation. It is a representation of the two nations’ strong mutual trust. ‘Make in India’ and the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-sufficient India) project have France as a key partner,’ Modi remarked.

We’ll talk about co-development and co-production of new technologies today, he added. Both sides, according to Modi, may create military systems for allies who are third parties.

“There is room to enhance the defense space agencies’ collaboration. We are making progress on establishing MRO facilities, spare part manufacturing, and helicopter engine development by French firms in India. On this, we’ll concentrate on improving our collaboration,” he stated.

Additionally, Modi said that France and India will continue their collaboration in the civil nuclear industry and explore opportunities for compact and sophisticated modular reactors.

He said that in the fight against terrorism, France and India have worked closely. “We believe that strong action needs to be taken to end cross-border terrorism, and both nations agree to take further steps in this direction,” Modi added.

The Indo-Pacific, India’s G20 presidency, and other local and global problems of shared concern were also topics of conversation, according to the MEA statement. During the joint news conference, the prime minister said that India and France have a specific obligation to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, a region that is now being affected by China’s aggressive behavior.

“India and France have a special responsibility for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific as resident powers,” he added.

Modi remarked that although the Covid-19 epidemic and the Ukraine crisis have had an adverse effect on the whole globe, they have had a particularly detrimental effect on the nations of the Global South.

“This is a serious issue. It is crucial that nations work together to develop answers to these issues. We think that only through communication and diplomacy can all disagreements be resolved. The prime minister said that India is ready to help promote long-term peace.

The “Horizon 2047: Charting the future of India-France Strategic Partnership” paper was one of the ambitious conclusions that were accepted during their discussions, according to the MEA release.

According to the statement, the prime minister expressed his eagerness to welcome President Macron to New Delhi for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September 2023. Both Modi and Macron spoke at the CEOs Forum. The French business community was encouraged by the Prime Minister to explore prospects in India.

In addition, he said that India will establish a new consulate in Marseilles, a port city.