Maritime & Education to Strengthen India-France Ties
French President Emmanuel Macron attended India's 75th Republic Day as the Guest of Honour. This was his second visit to India and the sixth visit by a French leader as Guest of Honour for the Republic Day. France has been a strong supporter of India's membership in the UNSC. Macron's visit signifies France's recognition of India's global diplomacy and security role. This visit is particularly important as India and France celebrate 25 years of their Strategic Cooperation and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Bastille Day Parade in France as the Guest of Honour in 2023.
Macron was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Ministers of Armed Forces, Culture, European and Foreign Affairs, senior officials of the French Government, and CEOs and industry leaders. India and France have maintained close ties due to shared democratic values, prioritising strategic autonomy, and seeking a multipolar world. The Indo-French Strategic Partnership has strengthened bilateral ties in civil nuclear, space, defence, and security. During this visit, India and France are strengthening ties in maritime and education. Macron said France wishes to welcome 30,000 Indian students to its universities by 2030.
The French President's meeting with the Indian PM also involved talks on enhancing cooperation in the Indian Ocean. France's direct interest in the Indo-Pacific stems from it being a resident and the region becoming strategically important with over 60 per cent of global wealth and three-fifths of the world's population. France is strengthening its maritime relationship with India, betting on India's influence in the region due to its cordial ties with major resident nations of the Indo-Pacific. Building on the joint surveillance missions conducted in the SouthWest Indian Ocean between 2020 and 2022 and the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Indo-Pacific signed between the nations in 2023, France and India noted collaborations on joint production ventures for defence equipment, including helicopters and submarines. France committed to further sourcing Rafale components from India, marking India’s growing footprint in defence equipment and tech.
They also agreed to coordinate to uphold freedom of navigation in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Gaza crisis. In their joint statement, the leaders called for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and a political process for a two-state solution for lasting peace. President Macron praised India's offer to host COP33 in 2028. He also expressed France's support for India's candidacy to the International Energy Agency, acknowledging that India's membership would be mutually beneficial. The two leaders agreed to establish a Comprehensive Dialogue on Global Issues to facilitate talks on political and global issues such as oceans, climate change, biodiversity, pollution, and digital, with a focus on multilateral frameworks. The two nations also discussed engagements on space, cyber security and trade.
