Tag: India France Ties

  • Modi-Macron Talks Boost India-France Defence, Space And Civil Nuclear Cooperation |

    New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held talks in Jaipur on Thursday and agreed to enhance India-France cooperation in defence, space and civil-nuclear sectors. They also signed a defence industrial roadmap and a defence space partnership agreement. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, who briefed the media on Friday, said the defence industrial roadmap will identify opportunities for co-designing, co-development and co-production of military hardware and building defence supply chains. He said the aim is to meet the defence needs of India and France and also to contribute to the security partnership with other countries.

    Kwatra said the defence space partnership agreement will enable joint work on a space situational awareness programme, which is important for developing military satellites and sharing information on space traffic and debris.

    He also said that Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and Airbus Helicopters have entered into an industrial partnership for joint production of H125 helicopters in India with a significant indigenous and localisation component. He said Airbus SE will set up an assembly line in India for the helicopters.

    The foreign secretary said Modi and Macron also discussed various aspects of civil-nuclear energy cooperation and that there was a very positive and forward leaning conversation on small modular reactors (SMRs). He said the civil-nuclear cooperation has several elements such as localisation, financial viability and cost effectiveness and that the discussions are ongoing.

    He also said that Modi and Macron exchanged views on the situation in the Red Sea and the potential disruptions that it can cause, as well as the conflict in Gaza. He said there was no announcement on India’s proposed procurement of 26 naval variants of Rafale jets and three Scorpene submarines from France as the price negotiations are still underway.

    The foreign secretary said Modi and Macron also firmed up agreements for boosting engagement in areas of healthcare, education, training, research and sustainable development. He said the year 2026 will be celebrated as India-France year of innovation.

    He also said Modi and Macron touched upon the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific.

    Macron, who was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations at the Kartavya Path on Friday, was accompanied by a delegation of senior ministers, officials and top executives of leading French defence majors including Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. He began his two-day visit to India from Jaipur.

    The foreign secretary described the area of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a relatively new domain space in terms of discussion between the two countries.

    “Technology needs to come together, viability needs to come together and its positioning in the overall energy mix needs to come together. There was a very positive, forward leaning ongoing conversation between the two countries (on it),” he said.

    An MoU was inked by New Space India Limited (NSIL) and French space agency Arianespace for cooperation in satellite launches.

    Kwatra said the French side has always been forthcoming in supporting India’s candidacy for the membership of the International Energy Agency.

    He also said that following up on a decision taken during Modi’s visit to Paris in July last year, the Indian consulate in the southern French city Marseille and the French bureau in Hyderabad are now fully ready to be operational.

    The defence and strategic ties between India and France have been on an upswing in the last few years.

    The two strategic partners also expressed commitment to cooperate in the co-development and co-production of advanced defence technologies, including for the benefit of third countries.

    The two sides are also expanding cooperation in the maritime domain including in the Indian Ocean Region.

    (With Agency Inputs)

  • PM Modi, Emmanuel Macron discuss Afghan situation, flag concerns over possible spread of terrorism

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday discussed the recent developments in Afghanistan and shared their concerns about possible spread of terrorism, narcotics, illicit weapons and human trafficking.

    During their telephonic conversation, the two leaders reviewed the increasing bilateral collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region, and the important role that the India-France partnership plays in promoting stability and security in the region, a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office here said.

    President Macron and Prime Minister Modi agreed to act jointly and with Europe in the Indo-Pacific, to keep the region stable, rules-based and free of any hegemony, French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain said on Twitter.

    Spoke with my friend President @EmmanuelMacron on the situation in Afghanistan. We also discussed closer collaboration between India and France in the Indo-Pacific. We place great value on our Strategic Partnership with France, including in the UNSC.
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 21, 2021
    After his conversation with Macron, Modi tweeted, “Spoke with my friend President @EmmanuelMacron on the situation in Afghanistan. We also discussed closer collaboration between India and France in the Indo-Pacific.”

    “We place great value on our strategic partnership with France, including in the UNSC,” Modi said.

    The PMO said the two leaders discussed regional issues, including recent developments in Afghanistan.

    “In this context, they shared their concerns about possible spread of terrorism, narcotics, illicit weapons and human trafficking, as well as the need to ensure human rights, rights of women and minorities,” the statement said.

    The leaders agreed to maintain close and regular consultations, in the spirit of the India-France Strategic Partnership, which both countries cherish deeply, it said.

  • India & France pledge to strengthen strategic ties

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:   EAM S Jaishankar on Tuesday held discussions with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian where the two leaders talked about cooperation in trade and defence as well as bilateral, regional and global issues.

    “A comfortable, substantive and productive discussion with FM @JY_LeDrian. India and France will advance their shared post-COVID agenda through close collaboration,” Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting. La Drian arrived in India on Monday on a four-day visit.

    He was to call on PM Narendra Modi later on Tuesday.  The visit is aimed at boosting cooperation between India and France, including in the Indo-Pacific region. The visit comes amid French media reports suggesting corruption in the Rafale deal with India. India had signed a pact with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. Dassault Aviation has delivered 14 aircraft to the IAF so far.

    “Excellent meeting b/w @JY_LeDrian @francediplo_EN & @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia. The ministers discussed all aspects of the bilateral strategic partnership, regional & global challenges and cooperation at the #UNSC,” French ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain tweeted.

  • India, France discuss counter-terrorism, cooperation in Indo-Pacific at strategic dialogue

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India and France discussed key issues such as counter-terrorism, maritime security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region at their annual strategic dialogue and vowed to accord high priority to their partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

    National Security Advisor Ajit Doval led the Indian delegation, while the French delegation was headed by Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron, at the talks held on Thursday.

    At the dialogue, they reiterated their attachment to an inclusive, rules-based Indo-Pacific which contributes to a multipolar Asia in a multipolar world, the French release on the dialogue said.

    In its statement, the MEA said the two sides held discussions on a variety of issues including counter-terrorism, cyber security, defence cooperation, maritime security, regional and global issues and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

    Both sides reaffirmed the high priority they accord to the India-France strategic partnership and highlighted the convergence of views between the two countries, the MEA said.

    During his visit here, Bonne also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

    He also met Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

    “Had a productive meeting with Mr. Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to President Macron. Expressed joy at the progress in India-France Strategic Partnership, a force for global good in the post-COVID world. Reiterated the invitation to my friend @EmmanuelMacron to visit India,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted after meeting Bonne.

    The French statement said that the agenda of the strategic dialogue covered all aspects of the Indo-French strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific and in the fields of space, defence, security, civil nuclear energy, among others.

    On each topic, the two sides noted the high degree of convergence of views and agreed on concrete steps to further enhance their cooperation, the French statement said.

    During his meetings, Bonne conveyed President Macron’s wish to further strengthen the relationship of trust and friendship between France and India in 2021.

    “Indo-French cooperation will be key to tackling global challenges in 2021, such as ensuring equal and universal access to COVID-19 vaccines, protecting climate and biodiversity, and building a renewed multilateralism,” the French statement said.

    Bonne highlighted that France will work closely with India in the UN Security Council in 2021-2022 and reiterated France’s support for India’s bid for a permanent seat, it said.