France, India ink 25-year roadmap for strategic partnership
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The two countries praise their historic relations and confirm that the ties between their nations will continue to grow.
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French President Emmanuel Macron (R) welcomes India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at The Elysee Presidential Palace, Paris, France on July 14, 2023 (AFP)
France and India signed a 25-year strategic partnership agreement on Friday as the two Indo-Pacific countries aim to deepen cooperation, bilateral ties, and economic relations.
The plan was revealed following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state trip to Paris to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership.
In a joint statement, New Delhi and Paris highlighted their historical ties and announced their envisioned relations until 2047, with a special focus on the defense sector, technology, domestic cyber regulations, energy, and safeguarding the current international world order.
Read more: India neither steering away from US, nor toward Russia: Reuters
France is a “strong, trusted and consistent” ally, Modi said on Thursday, adding that the two nations are at a "turning point" as they complete 25 years of strategic partnership.
The Indian leader stressed that the European countries are key partners in the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Self-Reliant India’ initiatives, emphasizing that defense cooperation has always been a solid pillar of the relations between New Delhi and Paris.
"This is a symbol of the deep trust between the two nations… be it submarines or Indian Naval ships, together we want to fulfill not just ours but also the requirements of other friendly countries,” he said.
Concluding his visit, Modi described his two-day trip as "memorable".
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This France visit was a memorable one. It was made even more special because I got the opportunity to take part in the Bastille Day celebrations. Seeing the Indian contingent get a pride of place in the parade was wonderful. I am grateful to President @EmmanuelMacron and the… pic.twitter.com/BllJ8gVj8e
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 14, 2023
The two leaders oversaw the signing of a comprehensive cooperation agreement to jointly develop aircraft engines for the Multi-Role Helicopter program with French company Safran.
An outline to further collaborate in the defense industry was also announced, while India announced it is establishing the presence of its Defence Research and Development Organisation at its Embassy in Paris.
But defense deals, including preliminary approvals revealed on July 13 to buy 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy and three diesel-electric Scorpene-class submarines, estimated at around $10 billion, were not mentioned in the statement.
Read more: US luring India with high tech weapons to further alienate Russia: WSJ
However, the statement welcomed the delivery of 36 Rafale fighter jets ordered by India for its Air Force and praised “the success” of the joint submarine production program dubbed Project 75 Kalvari-class, which saw the building of six submarines at Mumbai’s Mazagon dockyard.
India and France are “ready to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian submarine fleet and its performance.”
The allies acknowledged “the progress” made on talks to construct the Aitapur Nuclear Power Project in the state of Maharashtra and welcomed the proposal of France's state electric company EDF to train Indian nuclear engineers and technicians for projects with French third-generation pressurized water EPR reactors.
However, Modi's visit was not all smooth and agreement-signing, as several parties, mainly leftists, criticized the visit.
"India is a friend. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi is far right and violently hostile to Muslims in his country," Jean-Luc Melenchon, head of the opposition left France Unbowed Party, tweeted last month.
L'#Inde est un pays ami. Mais Narendra Modi son premier ministre est d'extrême droite et violemment hostile aux musulmans dans son pays. Il n'est pas le bienvenue au #14Juillet, fête de la liberté égalité fraternité qu'il méprise.
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) June 14, 2023
"He is not welcome on July 14, a festival of liberty, equality, fraternity that he disdains."
The head of the Green Party, Marine Tondelier, said the choice of Modi as a guest of honor was a "grave political error" by Macron.
"It has to be reminded that since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, India, which is usually called the largest democracy in the world, has kept regressing when it comes to human rights and fundamental freedoms," Tondelier wrote in an article in French newspaper Liberation.
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