Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with French President Emmanuel Macron’s top advisor, Emmanuel Bonne, for their annual strategic dialogue, wherein the two sides discussed “wide-ranging bilateral and global issues.” India and France convene annually for this dialogue and alternate as hosts for the meet. The last meeting was held in February 2020 in Paris.
Following the meeting, Bonne welcomed India’s induction into the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He said, “India will be a member of the UN Security Council for 2 years. This will be a critical occasion for both of us to take initiatives whether it’ll be on the Indo-Pacific region or it is about addressing terrorist threats.” Further, he also expressed his gratitude for India’s support when France was “under attack by some leaders in Turkey and Pakistan and in other countries.” This was a reference to Turkish and Pakistani premiers, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Imran Khan’s statement following the French president’s speech on 6 October, wherein he vowed to pursue significant changes in French laws to combat growing radicalism amongst French Muslims.
Bonne did not hesitate from addressing several difficult political issues, including Kashmir and India’s ongoing tiff with China. He said, “On direct threats to India, we have always been very clear. Whether it be on Kashmir, we have been very supportive of India in the Security Council, we have not let the Chinese play any kind of procedural games. When it comes to Himalayas, just check our statements, we are perfectly clear. What we say publicly, we say to the Chinese also privately, there is no ambiguity.”
Bonne also extensively discussed France’s commitment to maritime security and the importance of reinforcing a rule-based order. Speaking about France’s increased presence in the Indo-Pacific, Bonne added, “When China breaks the rules, we have to be very robust and very clear and this is the sense of our naval presence in the Indian Ocean.” Further, he said that France also continues to maintain close relations to the “Quad,” which is the regional grouping that includes India, Australia, the United States and Japan. He further reminded the Indian side about its participation in the patrols in the Taiwan strait, which he said was aimed to ensure abidance by international law. Following the meeting, he said that the two sides will continue their cooperation in the areas of security and defence, which included sharing information and collaborating on maritime surveillance.
The meeting comes as India and France look to strengthen their bilateral relationship, specifically on the security and defence fronts. In September, the two countries, along with Australia, convened for the first time under a trilateral framework. The virtual meeting, which was co-chaired by Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Secretary-General Francois Delattre from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Australian foreign affairs and trade secretary Frances Adamson, focused on enhancing cooperation among the three sides in the Indo-Pacific. Moreover, in July, when India was facing a dual-threat along its borders from both Pakistan and China, France expedited the delivery of five Dassault Rafale jets to help it combat the threat to its border security. More recently, in early December, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a telephonic conversation with Macron, discussed bolstering bilateral cooperation on a wide array of issues including defence and digital and strategic autonomy.
India, France Convene for Annual Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi
Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with French President Emmanuel Macron’s top advisor, Emmanuel Bonne, wherein the two discussed “wide-ranging bilateral and global issues.”
January 8, 2021
Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. SOURCE: DNA