1st February 2024 (10 Topics)
India-France Strategic Partnership
Context :
The India-France 'Strategic Partnership' has evolved beyond governmental realms, entering commercial and civil spaces, reflecting maturity and resilience in the alliance.
- Origins and Evolution of Strategic Convergence:
- Founding Moments: The partnership traces back to 1998 when Jacques Chirac declared India's exclusion from the global nuclear order as an anomaly, laying the foundation for the first Strategic Partnership.
- Shared Traits and Ambitions: Both nations value strategic autonomy and multipolarity, with France recognizing the geopolitical shift to the Asia-Pacific and choosing India as its preferred partner.
- Growing Dialogue: The partnership, initiated with a focus on nuclear, space, and defense, has expanded to encompass broader strategic areas, including counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, cyber-security, and shared positions on global challenges.
- Building Defense and Industrial Cooperation:
- Defense Milestones: Collaborations include the construction of six Scorpene submarines, government-to-government agreement for 36 Rafale aircraft, and announcements for additional acquisitions, enhancing India's defense capabilities.
- Industrial Roadmap: A defense industrial roadmap has been established, promoting self-reliance (atmanirbharta) with agreements such as setting up assembly lines for civilian helicopters and military transport aircraft.
- Technological Collaboration: Enhanced collaboration in technology transfer, aircraft engine development, and aerospace industry growth showcases the depth of cooperation, addressing challenges faced during previous negotiations.
- Broadening and Deepening Beyond Government Domains:
- Joint Working Groups: To broaden the partnership, joint working groups covering agriculture, environment, civil aviation, IT, telecom, urban development, transportation, culture, and tourism have been established.
- Education and People-to-People Ties: Success stories include a significant rise in Indian students pursuing higher education in France, reaching over 10,000, with a target of 30,000 by 2030. Measures like five-year Schengen visas for post-graduate students aim to facilitate this.
- Commercial Presence: The alliance extends to the commercial domain, with nearly 1,000 French companies in India and 150 Indian businesses in France, marking a shift post-Brexit where France serves as the entry point for Europe and Francophonie.
Courses
Study
Notes
Home
Resources
More
