During its annual bilateral Strategic Dialogue with India, France committed to providing military support to India in the Indo-Pacific, further deepening its engagement in the region.
The dialogue, held in Paris, was chaired by Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Emmanuel Bonne, the Diplomatic Advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron. During their discussion, Bonne communicated the French side’s support to India’s defence industrialisation. The meeting also featured discussions on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the developing threat of terrorism in the maritime, cyber, and space domains.
The leaders further underscored their commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership to secure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, reiterating the commitments made by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and President Macron during their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Italy. During their meeting last week, Modi expressed his appreciation for France’s leadership in guiding the European Union’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. In this regard, both sides agreed to cooperate in the region and work towards a free, open, and rules-based order.
Following the meeting between Doval and Bonne, a statement by the Indian embassy in Paris said, “France stressed its continuing commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, as a resident power, and partnership with India as a major pillar of its Indo-Pacific strategy.” The release added that the Indian and French representatives had agreed to deepen engagement in “regional institutions and forums” and support other countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Doval also convened meetings with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Drian and Defence Minister Florence Parly on the sidelines of the dialogue. During these discussions, the Indian NSA celebrated France as a major partner in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Parly, meanwhile, discussed ways to advance India’s “defence industrialisation and self-reliance.” In this regard, the French side committed to assisting India in developing its military technologies.
Of late, France has made several overtures to increase its presence in Indo-Pacific, bolstering cooperation with several countries, including the United States and Japan, in the region.
France has increasingly voiced its opposition to China’s aggressive actions in the region, such as the increasing presence of military vessels and the construction of artificial islands. The Macron administration has also opposed China’s military presence at the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, the Gwadar port in Pakistan, and in Djibouti, all of which conflict with French security interests in the region. The region is important to France because 93% of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is situated in the Indo-Pacific. Moreover, the region’s islands also house over 1.5 million French citizens and 8,000 French troops.
Partnering with India has also become crucial in light of the AUKUS military partnership between the US, the United Kingdom, and Australia, for which Australia abandoned its 2016 multibillion-dollar submarine deal with France.
France to Provide India With Military Assistance to Counter Threats in Indo-Pacific
France agreed to enhance its military and defence cooperation with India in the Indo-Pacific, strengthening its presence in the volatile region.
November 8, 2021
Indian NSA Ajit Doval (L) and Emmanuel Bonne, the Diplomatic Advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron SOURCE: ANI NEWS