India-France Strategic Dialogue

India-France Strategic Dialogue

  • India and France are holding their annual strategic dialogue in New Delhi recently.

Important Points

  1. The India-France strategic dialogue is held annually with the two countries alternating as hosts.
    1. The last India-France strategic dialogue was held in Paris in February 2020 just before the Covid-19 pandemic forced the world into a lockdown.
  2. The key focus areas of the talks this year are Covid-19 vaccines, cooperation within the Indo-Pacific area, nuclear, space, maritime safety, environment, digital economy, and defence sectors.
  3. France has an emphatic presence in the Indian Ocean region.
    1. Its overseas territories of Reunion Island and Mayotte island makes it a stakeholder in the region, which is fast developing into a theatre of geostrategic power-play.
    2. The overseas territories of France give it an area of 28 lakh sq km in the Indian Ocean as Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the UNCLOS treaty of 1982.
  4. France has emerged as a key partner of India in the Indian Ocean in recent years. Recently, India signed a logistics sharing agreement with France.
    1. This enables India and France to use each other’s military facilities.
    2. This is significant in the view of China’s growing interest and capability in the Indian Ocean under Xi Jinping.
  5. China has increased its stake in the Indian Ocean region with its presence in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Djibouti.
    1. India’s agreement with France could be a deterrent to the growing ambitions of China as the French Navy has permanent bases in Djibouti and Abu Dhabi besides in territories of Reunion Island and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean.
  6. India and France have robust economic and strategic ties for several decades.
    1. The bilateral bonding has strengthened in recent years with India deepening its military and defence ties with France.
    2. India has signed various agreements for the purchase of French defence platforms including fighter jets, helicopters, and submarines.
  7. Demonstration of solidarity has been an important aspect of growing closeness between India and France.
    1. India promptly condemned the Paris knife attack over freedom of expression row in October 2020.
    2. India also extended diplomatic support to French President Emmanuel Macron when he was attacked by several Muslim countries including Pakistan and Turkey over his policies.
  8. On economic front, the French companies have been among the top investors in India in the fields of renewable energy, defence, infrastructure and smart cities, and pharmaceuticals.
    1. At present, India-France trade stands at around $13 billion (2019) with India having a positive balance of trade.
  9. The major French import (worth around $6 billion) comprises of helicopters, aero-planes, satellites and spacecraft launch vehicles while India’s exports (worth $7 billion) are more diversified with petroleum having the largest share of 17 per cent.

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