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25th Anniversary of the India France Strategic Partnership

Context

• India and France recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Indo-French Strategic Partnership.

India- France Relations

• Beginning and Developments 
  • Signed in 1998, the Indo-French Strategic Partnership has continued to gain momentum over shared values and strategic autonomy.
  • France was among the first countries with which India signed a civil nuclear deal.
  • Paris also played a critical role in limiting India’s isolation in the non-proliferation order after the 1998 nuclear tests.
• Trade & Commerce
  • France has emerged as a key trading partner of India with annual trade of $12.42 billion in 2021-22. 
  • France is the 11th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative investment of $10.31 billion in past two decades, which represents 1.70% of the total foreign direct investment inflows into India. 
• Defence
  • France has emerged as a key defence partner for India, becoming the second largest defence supplier in 2017- 2021. 
  • France is a major strategic partner for India with crucial defence deals and increased military to military engagement. Some of the examples are
    • Induction  of the French Scorpene conventional submarines, being built in India under technology transfer agreement of 2005,
    •  the Indian Air Force’s fulfilled order of 36 Rafale fighter jets. 
    • The Tata group’s tie-up with Airbus to manufacture C-295 tactical transport aircraft in Vadodara, Gujarat.
  • These relations are further fortified with the robust network of military dialogues and regularly held joint exercises — Varuna (navy), Garuda (air force), and Shakti (army). 
  • France is willing to  partner India as it builds its national industrial base for the defence industry and for critical strategic defence projects
• Climate Change
  • India has supported France in the Paris Agreement expressing its strong commitment towards mitigating climate change impact. 
  • New Delhi and Paris, as part of their joint efforts on climate change, launched the International Solar Alliance in 2015.
• Indo-Pacific
  • India and France are resident powers of the Indian Ocean and in the Indo-Pacific. 
  • “Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region” presents a blueprint for a strengthening of ties like Franco-Indian joint patrolling in the Indian Ocean.
  • India and France agreed to set up an Indo-Pacific Trilateral Development Cooperation Fund that will support innovative solutions for countries in the region. 
  • The two partners have formed a trilateral grouping with the United Arab Emirates to ensure security from the east coast of Africa to the far Pacific. 
• Support for NSG :  
  • France supports India’s bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council as well as its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group

Common Concerns: 

• Both countries share concerns over the rise of China and its aggressive behaviour, regionally and globally, and have committed to working together to ensure that there is no imbalance in the Indo-Pacific.
• There is a broad understanding of each other’s position and resolve to coordinate to find a solution when they find themselves in opposite camps for example Russia-Ukraine crisis 
• Having no  real substantive disagreements between the two nations is rare in international relations.

Future Outlook 

• India’s partnership with France is built on common values and goals.
•  The ongoing high-level India-France political dialogue in defence, maritime, counterterrorism, and the Indo-Pacific. is moving forward in  digitisation, cyber, green energy, a blue economy, ocean sciences, and space’, making this truly a decade for INDO-FRENCH cooperation.

India-US Strategic Clean Energy Partnership

Context

The Ministerial meeting of the US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) was held between Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and US Energy Secretary in New Delhi.

• Both sides noted the critical importance of bilateral clean energy engagement and the achievements of the SCEP in strengthening energy security, creating opportunities for clean energy innovation, addressing climate change and creating employment generation opportunities.

What are the Key Highlights of the Meeting?

• Review of the Ambitious and Dynamic SCEP Mandate:
  • Collaboration across a wide breadth of clean energy work streams, including clean and renewable energy, energy efficiency
  • Emerging technologies like battery storage and swapping technologies, gas hydrates, advanced biofuels, and hydrogen and electrolyzed production.
• Commitments:
  • Agreed to work toward development of Net zero village in India to support the clean energy transition.
  • Establishment of the public-private Energy Storage Task Force to support the clean energy transition;
  • Deployment of hydrogen technologies through the public-private Hydrogen Task Force.
  • Launch of the U.S.-India New and Emerging Renewable Energy Technologies Action Platform (RETAP) to accelerate development of key technologies to advance common ambitious clean energy goals.
• Affirmed Global Biofuels Alliance:
  • This Alliance will be aimed at facilitating cooperation and intensifying the use of sustainable biofuels, including in the transportation sector.
    • Brazil, India and US as leading biofuel producers and consumers, with other interested countries.
  • The Alliance shall work in collaboration with the Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Platform, the Mission Innovation Bioenergy initiatives, and the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP).
• South Asia Group for Energy (SAGE):
  • Both sides launched the SAGE to deepen the engagement between Indian agencies and US national laboratories to support research, analysis and capacity building activities such as building modelling capacity in Life Cycle Assessment of low carbon technologies and analytics on energy consumption in building sector.
• Other Concerns:
  • The addition of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage as a work stream under the Emerging Fuels and Technology Pillar.
  • The collaboration of US Agency for International Development (USAID) with various Indian agencies including Indian Railways, NTPC Green National Skills Development Corporation, Skills Council for Green Jobs, and the Forum of Regulators.

What is Strategic Clean Energy Partnership?

• The SCEP was launched in accordance with the US - India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership announced by both countries at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate held in 2021.
• The SCEP advances energy security and innovation with greater emphasis on electrification and decarbonization of processes and end uses; scaling up emerging clean energy technologies; finding solutions for hard-to-decarbonize sectors; and deploying technical solutions.
• The SCEP was earlier established as the Strategic Energy Partnership in 2018 and had replaced the U.S.-India Energy Dialogue, the previous intergovernmental engagement for energy cooperation.

India-Sri Lanka Relations

Context

Recently, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the largest parliamentary grouping of Tamil parties in Sri Lanka has rejected the Sri Lankan President's offer to implement the 13^th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution without police powers.

• This rejection by the TNA assumes significance before the President's scheduled visit to India, as India has consistently emphasized the "full implementation" of this legislation, which is vital for addressing the historic demand of Sri Lankan Tamils for self-determination.

What is the Background?

• About:
  • The 13^th Amendment was enacted after the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987, and it remains the only legislative guarantee of power devolution to the provinces.
    • Indo-Lanka Accord 1987 was signed by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President J.R. Jayawardene, to resolve Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict that had aggravated into a full-fledged civil war, between the armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which led the struggle for Tamils’ self-determination and sought a separate state.
  • The 13^th Amendment, which led to the creation of Provincial Councils, assured a power sharing arrangement to enable all nine provinces in the country, including Sinhala majority areas, to self-govern.
  • Subjects such as education, health, agriculture, housing, land and police are devolved to the provincial administrations, but because of restrictions on financial powers and overriding powers given to the President, the provincial administrations have not made much headway.
  • However, successive governments in Sri Lanka have refused to grant land and police powers to the provinces, leading to unresolved issues since the civil war ended 14 years ago.
• President's Proposal and TNA's Response:
  • The Sri Lankan President presented a comprehensive dossier to Tamil political parties, outlining plans for truth-seeking, reconciliation, accountability, development, and power devolution.
    • The proposal included implementing the 13^th Amendment, except for police powers, and empowering provincial councils through various Bills.
  • However, the TNA rejected the proposal, calling it a "hollow promise," citing a lack of political will to genuinely devolve power, as provincial councils have been defuncting for five years without elections.
  • The Tamil National People's Front and civil society leaders expressed concerns to the Indian Prime Minister, urging a federal solution due to limitations of the 13^th Amendment under a unitary constitution.

How are India’s Relations with Sri Lanka?

• About:
  • India and Sri Lanka are two South Asian nations situated in the Indian Ocean region. Geographically, Sri Lanka is located just off the southern coast of India, separated by the Palk Strait.
  • This proximity has played a significant role in shaping the relationship between the two countries.
  • The Indian Ocean is a strategically important waterway for trade and military operations, and Sri Lanka's location at the crossroads of major shipping lanes makes it a critical point of control for India.
• Relations:
  • Historical Ties: India and Sri Lanka have a long history of cultural, religious, and trade ties dating back to ancient times.
    • There are strong cultural ties between the two countries, with many Sri Lankans tracing their heritage to India. Buddhism, which originated in India, is also an important religion in Sri Lanka.
  • Economic ties: India is Sri Lanka’s third largest export destination, after the US and UK. More than 60% of Sri Lanka’s exports enjoy the benefits of the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. India is also a major investor in Sri Lanka.
    • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from India amounted to around USD 1.7 billion over the years from 2005 to 2019.
  • Defence: India and Sri Lanka conduct joint Military (Mitra Shakti) and Naval exercise (SLINEX).
  • Participation in Groupings: Sri Lanka is also a member of groupings like BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and SAARC in which India plays a leading role.
• Issues in India-Sri Lanka Relations:
  • Killing of Fishermen: Killing of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy is a lingering issue between these two nations.
    • In 2019 and 2020, a total of 284 Indian fishermen were arrested and a total of 53 Indian boats were confiscated by the Sri Lankan authorities.
  • Influence of China: China’s rapidly growing economic footprint (and political clout as a corollary) in Sri Lanka is straining India-Sri Lanka relations.
    • China is already the largest investor in Sri Lanka, accounting for 23.6% of the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during 2010-2019 as against 10.4% from India.

Way Forward

• The rejection of the President's proposal by the Tamil National Alliance and the growing concerns among Tamil political parties and civil society members underscore the ongoing challenges in implementing the 13^th Amendment and devolving power in Sri Lanka.
• India's emphasis on "full implementation" and the push for a federal solution are crucial aspects to watch as President Wickremesinghe's visit to India approaches.

East Asia Summit

Context

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that the East Asia Summit (EAS) must be committed to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, with respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

East Asia Summit (EAS)

About

• The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a regional forum held annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian and Oceanian regions, based on the ASEAN Plus Six mechanism.
• The East Asia Summit (EAS) sits at the apex of the ASEAN-centred regional architecture and is the Indo-Pacific's premier forum for strategic dialogue.
• It is the only leader-led forum at which all key partners meet to discuss political, security and economic challenges facing the Indo-Pacific, and has an important role to play in advancing closer regional cooperation.

Conception and Proposal

• The concept of an East Asia Grouping has significant history going back to an idea first promoted in 1991 by then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
• The final report in 2002 of the East Asian Study Group, established by the ASEAN Plus Three countries, was based on an EAS involving ASEAN Plus Three, therefore not involving Australia, New Zealand, or India.
• The EAS as proposed was to be an ASEAN-led development, with the summit to be linked to ASEAN summit meetings. However, the issue was to which countries beyond those in ASEAN the EAS was to be extended.
• The decision to hold the EAS was reached during the 2004 ASEAN Plus Three summit and the initial 16 members determined at the ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting held in Laos at the end of July 2005.
• Credit for advancing the forum during the 2004 ASEAN Plus Three summit has been attributed to Malaysia.

Members

• Membership expanded to 18 countries including Russia and the United States at the Sixth EAS in 2011.
• The 18 members of EAS are – the ten ASEAN member states (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) along with Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States. ASEAN leads the forum, and the chair rotates annually among ASEAN member states.

Role of ASEAN

• Since its establishment, ASEAN has held the central role and leadership in the forum.
• EAS meetings are held after the annual ASEAN leaders' meetings and play an important role in the regional architecture of Asia-Pacific.

First Summit

• The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 14 December 2005.

Priority Areas

• There are six priority areas of regional cooperation within the framework of the EAS. These are –

1. Environment and Energy,
2. Education, Finance,
3. Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases,
4. Natural
5. Disaster Management, and
6. ASEAN Connectivity.

• India endorses regional collaboration in all six priority areas.

Share in the world

• In 2020, EAS members represented 54 percent of the world's population and accounted for 62 percent of Global GDP worth an estimated US$52.3 trillion.

EAS Meetings and Processes

• The EAS is an annual Leaders' Summit usually held in October or November. In addition to their discussions, leaders issue statements on topical issues to signal political will for framing policy responses and to provide a basis for cooperation.
• Along with the Leaders' Summit, each year there is an EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and an EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting. These also serve as platforms for frank discussion of political, regional security and economic issues and prepare for the Leaders' Summit, including by developing new ideas on statements for leaders' consideration.
• There are also regular meetings of EAS participating countries’ ministers of Energy (held annually), Environment and Education (each held biennially).
• Senior Officials of EAS participating countries meet throughout the year to prepare for meetings of leaders and ministers, and to engage in frank exchanges of views on political, regional security, economic and other issues.
• Additional support for the EAS is provided through the EAS Ambassadors' Meeting in Jakarta, who meet regularly to discuss emerging issues, prepare for EAS meetings, and take forward decisions of EAS leaders.
• A dedicated EAS Unit within the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta also supports the monitoring and implementation of decisions by EAS leaders.

India and East Asia Summit

• An invitation to India to the EAS is a recognition of its fast-growing economic and political clout. However, a policy centered on multilateralism has its limitations.
• Hence, bilateral relations become crucial and moreover tend to be longer lasting.
• There is already a budding rivalry between China and India.
• India should therefore aim at firming up its ties especially with Japan and qualitatively improve its relations with countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam.
• With some diplomatic adroitness, India can do this not necessarily at the cost its relations with China.