India and France have pledged to collaborate on ground-breaking military projects, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France to mark the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two nations. During talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, the two leaders welcomed the decision to build three French-designed Scorpene submarines in India, as well as to manufacture Safran helicopter engines in the country. They also expressed support for the joint development of a combat aircraft engine. However, there was no mention of the anticipated sale of 26 French-built Rafale jets to India.
In a joint statement, the two leaders emphasized the importance of trust between the two countries and highlighted their commitment to advancing defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies. They also announced a memorandum of understanding between India’s Garden Reach Shipbuilders Ltd and French company Naval Group to collaborate on the production of surface ships to meet India’s naval requirements.
The visit also saw France relaxing visa rules for Indian students and approving an app-based payment system for Indian visitors, allowing them to spend in rupees during their stay in France.
As a gesture of goodwill, Macron awarded Modi the grand cross of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest order of merit. Modi expressed his gratitude and tweeted, May the bond deepen even further!
Prior to the visit, India had already confirmed the purchase of 26 maritime Rafales and three Scorpene submarines from France. France has become India’s second-largest arms supplier, accounting for 29% of its military hardware imports. Additionally, French energy company EDF is negotiating the sale of six nuclear reactors to India, and rail company Alstom is seeking to expand its operations in the country.
The trade relationship between India and France is also flourishing, with trade between the two countries reaching €25 billion by 2022, surpassing the initial target to achieve this figure by 2025. Airbus recently secured a major aircraft order, with IndiGo airline set to receive 500 A320 planes between 2030 and 2035.
Overall, the visit highlighted the deepening partnership between India and France, not only in the military sector but also in trade, industry, investment, and emerging fields such as technology and space economy. The collaborations and initiatives announced during the visit are expected to strengthen the ties between the two nations and further boost their economic and strategic cooperation.
