AIR’s Spotlight- Strengthening Bilateral Ties Between India and France | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

The 25th anniversary of the Indo-French Strategic Partnership holds particular significance this year. France was India's inaugural strategic partner in the Western world, while India marked France as its first non-European partner. Thus, the invitation extended to President Macron as the chief guest for the Republic Day parade by Prime Minister Modi symbolizes a reciprocal gesture of friendship.

Background

• France has consistently demonstrated sympathy towards India's similar claims rooted in its ancient civilization.
• The defense collaboration between India and France dates back to the 1950s with the acquisition of Ouragan aircraft, followed by the acquisition of Mystères, Jaguars (Anglo-French), and Mirage 2000.
• The joint naval exercises "Varuna" commenced in 1983, signifying the longstanding defense cooperation between the two nations.
• France has exhibited a deeper understanding of India's strategic imperatives compared to other countries. It became the first Western nation to establish a Strategic Partnership with India and initiated a Strategic Dialogue post-1998 nuclear tests, refraining from imposing bilateral sanctions.
• France was also the first P-5 country to endorse India's claim for a permanent seat in an expanded and reformed UN Security Council.

Mutual Benefits:

• Indo-French naval cooperation aims to safeguard critical sea lanes and effectively combat security threats such as piracy, trans-national crime, and terrorism in the Indian Ocean region.
• Additionally, the collaboration facilitates the potential expansion of India's naval operational footprint across the Indo-Pacific region, with French facilities potentially augmenting India's network of nautical outposts.

India-France Strategic Partnership

Defense:

• Various defense agreements have been concluded, including the construction of six Scorpène submarines in India with French assistance and technology sharing in missile and radar equipment acquisition.
• Joint military exercises, such as the Garuda series for air forces and the Shakti series for armies, were established in 2003 and 2011, respectively.
• A government-to-government agreement for the procurement of 36 Rafale aircraft has been finalized, with an ambitious offset target aimed at bolstering India's aerospace industry.

Energy Sector:

• Negotiations have been ongoing for the construction of six EPR nuclear power reactors with a total capacity of 9.6 GW.
• The International Solar Alliance, jointly initiated by India and France, focuses on promoting green energy initiatives. France has pledged additional financial support for solar projects in developing countries.

Maritime Cooperation

• France shares India's concerns regarding China's expanding presence in the Indian Ocean Region. It maintains bases in Reunion Islands, Djibouti, and Abu Dhabi to safeguard its interests in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Trade between the Two Countries:

• Although trade between India and France has witnessed growth in recent years, it remains lower than that with Germany, standing at $10 billion.
• Significant agreements worth nearly $16 billion were signed at the business summit, reflecting the robust economic ties between the two nations. Additionally, numerous French and Indian companies have established a presence in each other's countries, indicating the potential for further collaboration.
• With Brexit looming, India may increasingly view France as a gateway to Europe, expanding its opportunities beyond traditional entry points like the UK.

Space:

• Previously, France played a crucial role in assisting India in establishing the Sriharikota launch site.
• Presently, the relationship between the two nations is characterized by parity, with the 'vision statement' outlining plans for collaborative world-class space missions focusing on space situational awareness and high-resolution earth observation missions with applications in meteorology, oceanography, and cartography.

Education Links:

• Annually, approximately 2,500 Indian students pursue higher education in France, contrasting sharply with over 250,000 students from China.
• The agreement on mutual recognition of academic degrees and subsequent Knowledge Summit resulted in the signing of 14 MoUs between educational and scientific institutions.

Tourism:

• Although there are merely 20 flights per week between India and France, Germany boasts four times as many flights, and the UK has ten times as many. Hence, there is a need to increase the number of flights between India and France.

Concerns:

• While governmental relations are robust, business ties between the two countries are relatively weak. Bilateral trade falls short of half of India's trade with Germany, and the targeted €12 billion set in 2008 remains elusive.
• Despite an uptick in French foreign direct investment (FDI) in recent years, it does not adequately reflect the presence of over 800 French enterprises in India.

Conclusion

Improvements in French social security laws, long-term student visa provisions, and facilitating employment opportunities for two to three years to repay student loans are essential areas that require attention to foster more effective cooperation between the two countries.