17th July 2023
Editorials
Context:
Celebrating 25 years of the India-France strategic partnership was at the top of the agenda during the Prime Minister’s two day visit to France where he was invited to be the chief guest at the Bastille Day parade.
What is Bastille Day?
- National Day- The national day of France is celebrated on July 14, also known as Bastille Day or Fête nationale française, and is marked by a long military parade.
- Storming of Bastille- This was the day on which ordinary people stormed Bastille, a 14th century fortress-prison in Paris that was used to incarcerate political prisoners.
- Tri-Service Participation- In 2009, Indian soldiers were invited to take part in the ceremonies and the military parade was opened by a contingent of 400 members of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
Uniqueness about India-France Relationship:
- Respecting strategic autonomy- France has remained steadfast in its refusal to comment on India’s internal a?airs or its foreign policy choices.
- Not joining the western narrative- In 1974, and in 1998, France did not join the western push to sanction India for its nuclear tests.
- No compulsive drag- Neither country has any desire to pull the other into a coalition, grouping or alliance the other is a part of, and both seem content with the success in forging the relationship bilaterally
Plans Ahead:
- Horizon 2047- Chief among the agreements was the strategic road map for the next 25 years — “Horizon 2047” — which includes cooperation in defence, space, climate change to name a few.
- Indo-Pacific cooperation- Another road map was released on how to cooperate further in the Indo Paci?c region, which includes military and naval exchanges and a trilateral development fund to help countries in the region.
- Defence Ties- The decisions, in principle, to buy 26 more Rafale ?ghter jets; three more Scorpene submarines, and an agreement between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Safran for helicopter engines.