Assessing India-France Relations in a World Emerging Out Of American Exceptionalism

• n contrast to American Exceptionalism, the benefits of India-France collaboration lie in various realms, including security and trade.
• The support of France has been comprehensive and pervasive since establishing the India-France Strategic Partnership in 1998 and has supported India’s bid for Permanent Seat in the UNSC, MTCR, Defence Tech, Space Exploration and more.
• The partnership has strengthened India’s defence capabilities and opened avenues for sharing advanced technology with other countries, promoting collaboration and mutual benefit.
• While India and France have refrained from interfering in each other’s internal affairs, the US has repeatedly interfered in its internal affairs and tried to arm-twist India to stop buying crude oil from Russia.

President Emmanuel Macron became the sixth leader from France to be the Chief Guest for Republic Day Celebrations held at Kartavya Path. The relations add a new layer and cement the comprehensive strategic partnership into an all-weather relationship between the two nations. Earlier, American President Joe Biden, Japanese Premier Fumio Kishida, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were invited to showcase the world of long and durable partnership in the Indo-Pacific in the presence of the QUAD leaders. Strangely, President Biden declined, and the French Premier graciously accepted the invitation a month before.

Forging Alliances: A Historical Perspective

The French Administration has demonstrated its longstanding commitment to improving ties since 1962 when France ceded to India full sovereignty over the territories it held, marking a turning point in their relationship. The relationship strengthened and stood the test of time with France refusing to impose sanctions on India after the nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998. France supplied nuclear fuel for the Tarapur Nuclear plant.

The support of France has been comprehensive and pervasive since establishing the India-France Strategic Partnership in 1998. It extended to:

• Supporting India’s entry into a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
• Vital support for India’s accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), and Australia Group (AG). France continues to support India’s bid for accession to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
• Working together for the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in the UN.
• Comprehensive partnership covering counterterrorism, cybersecurity, defence, and nuclear energy.
• Providing cutting-edge military hardware since 1960, with Fighter Jets Jaguar, Mirage 2000, and Rafale becoming the fulcrum of Indian Air Force requirements.
• In Space Exploration, France participates in India’s upcoming Venus mission and the creation of TRISHNA, a cutting-edge high-resolution thermal observer for applications such as sustainable agriculture and drought forecasting.
• The establishment of Digital Payment by NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Lycra Network of France for the acceptance of UPI and RuPay Cards in France.

Tech Transfers and Trade: Building a Robust Economic Partnership

During the current visit, the thrust has been provided to achieve India’s vision for self-reliance in self-defence through the co-development and co-production of defence technologies. This partnership strengthens India’s defence capabilities and opens avenues for sharing advanced technology with other countries, promoting collaboration and mutual benefit. The broad initiatives include:

• French Aircraft Manufacturer Airbus partnering with Tata Group to set up India’s first helicopter Final Assembly Line in the private sector, previously exclusive to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
• Airbus contracting Tata Advance Systems to produce Cargo and Bulk Cargo Doors of Airbus A-320 for an estimated yearly contract of 735 Million USD at its new unit in Hyderabad using cutting-edge robotics and automation technology.
• The opening of a DRDO office in the Embassy in 2023 to strengthen technology cooperation. India-France-UAE forming a trilateral forum ‘Rafale Club’ to make India a hub for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) for Rafale fighter jets in Asia, including the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
• Safran of France and GTRE of India are likely to agree to manufacture Aircraft engines of capacity 110 KN to 155 KN with 100% technology transfer, including metallurgical annealing and top coating of rotor blades.
• Agreements between ISRO and the French Space Agency, Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), for French supplies of components and parts to the Indian Space Program.
• In the realm of Civilian nuclear energy partnership, both India and France have decided to establish a partnership on Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR) for the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project.
• France aiming to boost academic ties with India and is ready to increase student visas to 30,000 Indians by 2030 from the present 10,000 students enrolled in their universities.
• Agreements to enhance trade and investment in other sectors such as Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence.
• Two mega multi-billion dollar defence deals in the pipeline between the two countries—the 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers and three additional Scorpene-class conventional submarines—are currently in the cost negotiation phase and likely to be concluded by year-end.
• French aerospace giant Thales plans to set up an avionics MRO in Delhi.
• Indo-French Defense Industrial Roadmap: Paving the Way for Self-Reliance & counterbalancing China in the Indo-Pacific

Assessing the Role of the U.S. in Indo-French Relations

The role of America in deepening Indo-French relations is also highlighted. Meanwhile, while ties between India and France are blossoming, Indian-American relations have hit a roadblock. The deal with General Electric for the manufacture of F-414 engines with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is yet to be operationalized. The F-414 engines are meant to be used in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) – MK2. The commercial terms of the agreement are yet to be finalized, and for strange reasons, the vested interests of lobbies in Washington delay the implementation of the deal.

In addition, the United States, along with the United Kingdom, snatched a $90 billion submarine deal from France and formed AUKUS to supply nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. The French have opposed American excessive interference in the operations of NATO and have advocated for a Pan-European Army. France is the only country in Europe to have nuclear weapons, besides the United Kingdom, which is considered a close ally of America. While India and France have refrained from interfering in each other’s internal affairs, the Americans have tried to arm-twist India to stop buying discounted crude oil from Russia after the Ukraine crisis. Moreover, the threat of American bans looms large on sensitive technology in the future.

Conclusion

In contrast to American Exceptionalism, the benefits of India-France collaboration lie in various realms, including security and trade. The ability of both countries to navigate strategic landscapes with a savvy perspective marks a deepening partnership of shared cooperation and mutually beneficial interest.

References: 

1. _{India – France Joint Statement: https://shorturl.at/aq158}
2. _{India and France deepen ties: Joint defence roadmap, space cooperation, and more: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-france-ties-republic-day-defence-space-macron-modi-2493990-2024-01-26}
3. _{France and AUKUS: A Necessary Reconciliation: https://thediplomat.com/2022/09/france-and-aukus-a-necessary-reconciliation/}
4. _{The U.S. Can Benefit From France and India’s Partnership: https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/us-france-india-relations/}