India France Relations

IN NEWS:

• In 2023, India and France are celebrating 25 years of signing their strategic partnership. This presents an important opportunity for both to introspect on their relations.

HISTORY:

• From the 17th century until 1954, France maintained a colonial presence in the Indian subcontinent. France established diplomatic relations with India in 1947.
• The two countries signed a treaty in 1956 under which in 1962 France ceded full sovereignty over its colonial territories, like Pondicherry and Mahe, to India.
• France was among the few countries that did not condemn India’s nuclear tests in 1998 and instead chose to start a strategic dialogue with India.
• In 1998, the two countries entered into a Strategic Partnership encompassing security, space, defence and civil nuclear cooperation sectors.

SIGNIFICANCE OF INDIA-FRANCE RELATIONS:

• Resident powers in the Indian Ocean:
  • France is the only member of the EU that has physical territories in the Indian Ocean. So, India and France have converging interests in matters of maritime security and geopolitics in the region.
  • To strengthen the same, both countries have signed a ‘Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region’.  

• Defence imports:
  • France has emerged as a major defence partner for India, becoming the second largest defence supplier in 2017- 2021.
  • Besides the supply of defence equipments, France has also expressed it willingness to partner in India’s defence indigenisation efforts.
• Combating terrorism:
  • Both countries are victims of terrorism and have resolved to work together for adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in the UN.
• Countering China:
  • Both countries share concerns over the rise of China and its aggressive behaviour, regionally and globally, and have committed to working together to ensure that there is no imbalance in the Indo-Pacific.
• Reforming governance institutions:
  • France’s support was vital for India’s accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group. France continues to support India’s bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council as well as its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
• Developmental aid:
  • AFD, the French Agency for Development, is an important contributor to India’s developmental needs, most notably the Smart Cities mission. Also, since 2008, AFD has committed close to 2 billion Euros in the form of loans to the State and State-owned companies.
• Space cooperation:
  • CNES, the French Space Agency, is supporting India’s Gaganyaan programme in the field of space medicine and supply of crew support elements.
  • Also, ISRO often utilise the Europe's Spaceport situated in French Guiana, an overseas department of France for satellite launches.
• Develop nuclear power:
  • Paris played a critical role in limiting India’s isolation in the non-proliferation order after the 1998 nuclear tests. India and France signed a civilian nuclear agreement in 2008. India is also seeking to develop the Jaithapur nuclear power plant with French support.
• Promote blue economy:
  • India and France intend to make blue economy a driver of progress. Both countries aim to contribute to scientific knowledge and ocean conservation and ensure that the ocean remains a global common, a space of freedom and trade, based on the rule of law.
• Combating climate change:
  • Both countries have common views on climate change and continue to take efforts towards mitigation and adaptation. They co-founded the International Solar Alliance on the sidelines of COP21, and in 2020 France joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) launched by India.

AREAS OF COOPERATION:

• Political:
  • High level Political exchanges are undertaken by both countries. For instance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France in 2022 as part of a three-nation visit which also included Denmark and Germany.
  • Both countries value symbolism, which is noticeable in fact that French Presidents have been chief guests at India’s Republic Day Parade for a record five times.
• Economic:
  • France has emerged as a key trading partner of India with annual trade of USD 12.42 billion in 2021-22. It is the 11th largest foreign investor in India, which represents 1.70% of the total FDI inflows into India.
• Defence:
  • Equipments:
    • Notable procurements from France include the Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter, Scorpène-class submarines (called Kalvari-class submarines, being built in India under technology transfer agreement of 2005) and Rafale jets.
  • Agreements:
    • In 2018, India and France signed a logistics agreement whereby the two countries would open their naval bases to each other’s warships for refueling, repair and birthing facilities.
  • Exercises:
    • India and France have a robust network of military dialogues and regularly hold joint exercises: Varuna (navy), Garuda (air force), and Shakti (army).
• Developmental:
  • Besides support for infrastructural projects, AFD has partnerships with the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
  • India and France in 2022 agreed to set up an Indo-Pacific Trilateral Development Cooperation Fund to support India-based innovators and start-ups.
• Multilateral cooperation:
  • India and France are among the few world countries that have maintained open communication channels with both Russia and Ukraine.
  • India and France have formed a trilateral grouping with the United Arab Emirates to ensure maritime domain awareness and security from the east coast of Africa to the far Pacific.
• Humanitarian assistance and disaster Relief:
  • India and France cooperate in the Indian Ocean region on matters such as disaster relief operations and tackling oil spills.
  • India and France extended support at the peak of the pandemic in both countries. The French Developmental Agency has extended a concessional loan of 200 million Euro to India to help the vulnerable sections most severely affected by the pandemic.
• Combating climate change:
  • Besides the solar alliance and the CDRI, India is one of the signatory countries of the Brest Commitments for the Oceans.
  • India also joined the French-led initiative called the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, in 2021. The HAC has an objective of protecting at least 30% of the world’s lands and oceans by 2030.
• Promote blue economy:
  • In February 2022, the two sides adopted the India-France Roadmap on Blue Economy and Ocean Governance. The roadmap rests on four pillars:
    • Institutional Pillar: annual bilateral dialogue between Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and the French Ambassador for Maritime Affairs in MoFA to share best practices and support ongoing and future cooperation.
    • Economic Pillar: facilitating contact between economic players, business heads of organisations, technopoles and maritime clusters of India and France.
    • Infrastructure Pillar: cooperating on sustainable and resilient coastal and waterways infrastructure.
    • Scientific and Academic Pillar: enhancing scientific cooperation and exchanges between student and researchers.
• Cyberspace and digital technology:
  • French industry ‘Atos’ in collaboration with CDAC has developed “PARAM-Siddhi- AI”, India’s fastest supercomputer.
  • The Indo French Roadmap on Cybersecurity and Digital Technology was signed between the two countries in 2019. It lays down areas of cooperation such as cybersecurity, fight against cybercrime, regulation of Artificial Intelligence, protection of personal information, digital governance etc.

• Cultural:
  • The ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity in our Preamble have been taken from the French Constitution.
  • The Indian diaspora in France is estimated to be around 5,00,000, majority being French citizens based in the French overseas territories.
  • There has also been an increasing number of students and professionals studying and working in mainland France.
  • Indian culture enjoys wide following amongst the people of France. An Indian Cultural Centre, named Vivekananda Cultural Centre, is being opened in Paris.
• Science and Technology:
  • Research and development:
    • Established in 1987, the Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advance Research (CEFIPRA) based in New Delhi encourages joint research projects.
  • Space:
    • "India-France Joint Vision for Space Cooperation” was signed in March 2018, which promotes various joint research programmes and collaborations.
  • Nuclear:
    • Besides the agreement on civil nuclear cooperation, India is also a member of ITER, a multi-national consortium formed to construct an experimental fusion reactor, located in Cadarache, France.

CHALLENGES:

• Slow progress in EU-India Trade Agreement:
  • Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement is a Free Trade Agreement between India and EU, which was initiated in 2007. Despite a decade in talks, the agreement has been in deadlock.
  • Hence, despite France’s GDP being almost similar to that of India’s, bilateral trade remains far below potential.
• Distress in nuclear sector:
  • Following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, several countries have decided to move away from nuclear power. Also, French company Areva, which was poised to set up the Jaithapur nuclear plant has been under severe financial stress. This raises doubts over Indo-French cooperation in nuclear energy.
• Relationship with Russia:
  • India has a longstanding relationship with Russia. However, the EU has been isolating Russia for the annexation of Crimea and destabilization of eastern Ukraine. Hence, it will be a diplomatic challenge for both countries to keep close relations with all parties.
• Establishment of AUKUS:
  • The security cooperation agreement between Australia, the US and the UK caused discomfort for France. This is because it questioned France's strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific and led to the termination of the submarine deal it had signed with Australia in 2016.
  • This creates a challenge for India to revive the India-France-Australia (IFA) trilateral and ensure the cooperation of France with the Quad in the future.
• New ties with China:
  • In 2022, France has become the first country to join China to jointly build seven infrastructure projects worth over USD 1.7 billion in Africa, South East Asia and Eastern Europe. This could potentially impede French support for India in important matters.

CONCLUSION:

• Finalise Indo-EU BTIA:
  • For closer convergence with EU in general and France in particular, India should engage in finalisation of the trade deal as soon as possible.
• Diversify cooperation:
  • There exists immense potential for India and France to collaborate in future technologies such as 5G and 6G, developing global tech standards, training and capacity building programs and connecting the startup ecosystems of the two countries.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q. “India’s relations with France is deep, diversity and mutually beneficial”. Elaborate.