A new tango with Paris, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• India and France have elevated their relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership, reinforcing their commitment to strategic autonomy.
• PM Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron met in Mumbai to discuss deepening cooperation in defence and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• The Defence Acquisition Council approved the procurement of 114 Rafale aircraft from France, enhancing India's defence capabilities.
• The Horizon 2047 Roadmap aims to support long-term strategic convergence between India and France in a challenging global order.

Detailed Insights:

• The India-France partnership is built on a shared vision of a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region and mutual respect for each other's strategic interests.
• France recognizes India's autonomy in its relationship with Russia, even as France-Russia ties have deteriorated following the invasion of Ukraine.
• India views Europe as an independent strategic actor, exemplified by the recent India-EU FTA, with the India-France partnership serving as a conduit for deeper engagement.
• Cooperation extends beyond defence to include emerging technologies, critical minerals, space, climate action, global health and Artificial Intelligence.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Strategic Autonomy: A country's ability to pursue its foreign policy and security interests without undue influence from other powers.
• Rules-Based Order: An international system where interactions between states are governed by agreed-upon rules and norms.
• Indo-Pacific Region: A geopolitical region encompassing the Indian and Pacific Oceans, seen as a key area for trade, security, and strategic competition.