THE CONTEXT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France (February 10-12, 2025) focused on co-chairing the Paris AI Action Summit and strengthening ties through agreements on defense, nuclear energy, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). It has also advanced cooperation on AI, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), and Indo-Pacific security.
KEY DIMENSIONS OF THE VISIT:
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- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit: Advocating transparency and accessibility in AI systems to ensure equitable benefits. Utilizing AI for climate resilience and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Addressing workforce displacement through skill development and fostering innovation. It aligns with India’s National AI Strategy (#AIforAll), promoting inclusive growth. Strengthens India’s position as a global hub for AI innovation, contributing to the $1 trillion digital economy target by 2026.
- Strengthening Bilateral Ties: Reviewed existing deals on missiles, helicopter, and jet engines. Progress on the Defence Industrial Roadmap (2024) to promote joint production and technology transfer. India offered its indigenous Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) to France. Discussions are held in a conducive environment on integrating Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems into Scorpene submarines and exploring Integrated Combat Systems (ICS) for future submarines.
- Nuclear Energy Cooperation: Renewed commitment to construct nuclear reactors in Jaitapur, Maharashtra—the world’s largest nuclear power project. Focus on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs), which require less space and capital investment. France generates ~70% of its electricity from nuclear energy, making it a global leader in this field. The collaboration aligns with India’s low-carbon energy transition goals.
- India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC): IMEC aims to connect India with Europe via the Middle East through multimodal transport networks like railways, shipping routes, and roadways. France proposed Marseille as a strategic hub for IMEC operations. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to advancing IMEC despite geopolitical challenges in West Asia.
CAUSES OF CONFLICTS IN INDIA-FRANCE RELATIONS:
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- Nuclear Liability Issues: India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act (CLNDA), 2010, imposes strict liability on nuclear plant operators and allows recourse against suppliers in case of equipment failure. This deviates from international norms, such as the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), which primarily holds operators liable.
- Trade Imbalances: Indian exporters face high tariff and non-tariff barriers in France, particularly in sectors like textiles, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Indian goods account for only 0.25% of French imports, a figure disproportionate to India’s share in EU imports.
- FDI Disparity: While over 1,000 French companies operate in India, fewer than 100 Indian companies are present in France. France ranks as India’s 11th largest foreign investor, with cumulative investments of USD 10.84 billion (2000–2023).
- Structural Challenges: Trade between the two nations remains concentrated in defense and aerospace, limiting diversification into other sectors like IT, agriculture, and renewable energy.
- Geopolitical Divergences: France strongly opposes Russian aggression in Ukraine and supports NATO expansion, while India has maintained a neutral stance, emphasizing dialogue and diplomacy. France aligns with the Euro-Atlantic bloc, whereas India focuses on multipolarity and strategic autonomy.
- Gaza Crisis: France has criticized unilateral U.S. policies on Gaza, advocating humanitarian solutions. While India shares concerns about violence, its responses are often calibrated to balance ties with Israel and Arab nations.
- Operational Challenges in IMEC: The proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) faces hurdles due to political instability in West Asia, including conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Dependence on maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz increases vulnerability to disruptions.
- Logistical Complexities: Multimodal transport corridors involve higher costs and operational challenges than direct shipping routes. For instance, integrating railways with shipping networks across multiple jurisdictions requires extensive coordination.
THE WAY FORWARD:
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- Expand Collaboration under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap: Strengthening cooperation in space exploration, including reusable launch vehicles and climate monitoring satellites. France’s expertise in quantum technologies, as demonstrated by its national quantum strategy (2021), complements India’s quantum mission launched in 2023, which allocated ₹6,000 crore for R&D. Quantum computing can revolutionize areas like cryptography, logistics, and AI, while green hydrogen aligns with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
- Promote Joint Ventures under ‘Make in India’: Under the Defence Industrial Roadmap, strengthen joint production of critical defense platforms like submarines, helicopters, and missile systems. Focus on co-development of future-ready technologies like Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems and stealth aircraft. Joint ventures reduce defense import dependency while creating jobs in India’s manufacturing sector.
- Strengthen People-to-People Ties: Expand initiatives like the ‘Bonjour India’ festival to promote cultural diplomacy. Increase scholarships for Indian students under the Partnership Agreement on Migration and Mobility (2021). Encourage Indian startups to leverage France’s Station F incubator for global scaling. Facilitate joint research programs between Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and French institutions like École Polytechnique.
- Operationalize Trilateral Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific: Collaborate with stakeholders like Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Japan under frameworks like the Indo-Pacific Trilateral Development Cooperation Fund (IPTDCF). Ensure maritime security, counter illegal fishing activities, and promote sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific region. The trilateral mechanism between India, France, and Australia focuses on maritime domain awareness and disaster resilience in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Advance Climate Goals through Renewable Energy Projects: Implement the Indo-French Roadmap on Green Hydrogen to establish a sustainable value chain for decarbonized hydrogen production. Develop joint innovation clusters for affordable electrolyzers and hydrogen storage solutions. Scale up projects under the International Solar Alliance (ISA), co-founded by India and France at COP21 in Paris (2015).
- Build Resilience Through Multilateral Frameworks: Advocate for reforms in multilateral institutions like the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. Collaborate under the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to build climate-resilient infrastructure in vulnerable regions. France’s invitation to India to join the KIWA Initiative underscores their shared commitment to biodiversity preservation in Pacific Island nations.
THE CONCLUSION:
India-France relations, anchored in shared values of strategic autonomy, innovation, and sustainability, hold the potential to shape a multipolar world order by addressing global challenges through collaborative efforts in defense, emerging technologies, and climate action. Strengthening this partnership will enhance bilateral ties and contribute to global peace, stability, and equitable development.
UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTION:
Q. The long-sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalized Nations has disappeared on account of its new found role in the emerging global order. Elaborate. 2019
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q. The Horizon 2047 Roadmap between India and France provides a comprehensive framework for bilateral cooperation in emerging technologies and climate action.” Evaluate
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