Context
- India and France elevated ties to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership” during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit. Prime Minister Modi described bilateral ties as a force for global stability amid geopolitical uncertainty.
- Engagement reflected deep strategic trust, democratic values, and long-term geopolitical convergence. The leaders projected the partnership as boundary-less, spanning oceans, technology, and security domains.
Key Visit Outcomes
- Both nations amended the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement Protocol to deepen economic cooperation.
- An Annual Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue was institutionalised under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap.
- Agreement concluded on reciprocal deployment of armed forces for operational coordination.
- Partnerships expanded across health, critical minerals, renewable energy, defence, and skilling sectors.
- Leaders launched the India-France Year of Innovation and Innovation Network initiatives.
- New centres announced in AI Health, Digital Science, and Aeronautical Skilling domains.
Significance of India-France Ties
- The partnership reinforces multipolar world order and resists hegemonic geopolitical dominance.
- France engaged India diplomatically even after the 1998 nuclear tests sanctions phase.
- Paris consistently supports India’s UN Security Council permanent membership aspirations.
- Strategic convergence exists on rule-based order and strategic autonomy doctrines.
- France’s Indian Ocean territories make it a resident Indo-Pacific stakeholder.
- Defence and technology cooperation enhances India’s comprehensive national power.
Areas of Cooperation Between India and France
- Economic Cooperation
- Bilateral trade crossed USD 13 billion in 2022–23, marking expanding commercial engagement.
- Indian exports alone surpassed USD 7 billion, reflecting improved market access.
- Investment partnerships are growing in manufacturing, infrastructure, and services sectors.
- Taxation reforms aim to facilitate smoother cross-border investments.
- Innovation partnerships are expanding under the Horizon 2047 framework.
- Defence Cooperation
- France remains India’s most reliable high-technology defence partner.
- Major exercises include Varuna, Garuda, Shakti, and Tarang Shakti engagements.
- The FRIND-X platform promotes defence startup ecosystem collaboration.
- The Defence Industrial Roadmap focuses on co-design and co-development.
- Cooperation spans submarines, fighter aircraft, jet engines, and advanced platforms.
- Science and Technology
- The India-France AI Roadmap promotes safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems.
- Joint hubs support collaboration in life sciences and emerging technologies.
- Digital cooperation includes UPI payment integration across Franco-European systems.
- Research partnerships strengthen innovation ecosystems and knowledge co-creation.
- Skilling centres aim to build future-ready technological human capital.
- Space Cooperation
- France supplies critical components supporting India’s space programme expansion.
- Both nations collaborate on the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
- Joint satellites like TRISHNA advance climate observation capabilities.
- Cooperation includes maritime surveillance and payload development.
- Scientific exchanges enhance mission planning and technical expertise sharing.
- Civil Nuclear Cooperation
- Civil nuclear engagement began with the 2008 bilateral nuclear agreement.
- France collaborates on the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant project.
- India participates in the ITER Fusion Project based in Cadarache.
- Partnerships extend to Small Modular Reactors and Advanced Modular Reactors.
- Nuclear cooperation supports India’s clean energy transition goals.
- Other Emerging Areas
- Both nations advance implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement commitments.
- India and France co-launched the International Solar Alliance initiative.
- Cultural diplomacy thrives through exchanges and creative collaborations.
- The Year of Innovation integrates culture, technology, and youth engagement.
- Trilateral groupings enhance Indo-Pacific and energy security cooperation.