Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France from February 10th to 12th at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. It was a very important visit – this is why.
The Prime Minister’s visit included two important aspects: the AI Action Summit, co-chaired with President Macron, and the AI Action Summit, which integrated the Indian-France relationships that were raised to the level of strategic partnership in 1998. I agreed two years ago.
However, the next foot on the prime minister’s trip to the US also affected the visit. France and other European countries have spent months preparing to navigate the “Trump Factor,” but the shock already appears to be far greater than expected. US President Donald Trump’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin rattles off the European capital, which strongly opposed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trump’s actions highlight the inherent risks of Europe’s strategic dependence on the United States.
National identity and strategic independence lie at the heart of French foreign policy. However, Russia’s attack on Ukraine pushed such ideas into the background. Finland and Sweden joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) following the Ukrainian invasion. But when Trump is in the White House, EU countries may be forced to reevaluate their strategic autonomy and defence preparations.
French views have traditionally converged with India’s preference for a multipolar world, making India a trusted partner for France. Furthermore, the two countries share a strong commitment to addressing climate change. Trump’s announcement of the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement allowed France to call India for closer cooperation in the region.
Defense and connection
Unlike commercial exchanges, national defense has a political dimension and reflects an understanding of each geopolitical landscape. For many years, along with Russia, France has been India’s important and reliable source of defence equipment. Such supply also provides some degree of political leverage to exporting countries and directly affects the defensive preparation of importing countries.
For New Delhi, trust also comes from the fact that it is one of the few Western countries to refrain from imposing sanctions on India following the 1998 Pofran II nuclear test. Includes the UN Security Council. Additionally, the Indo-Pacific had a convergence of security and economic benefits.
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France was one of the top three global arm exporters between 2019 and 2023, according to Stockholm Institute of International Peace. After the Ukrainian War, France is also listed in the list of the top three destinations for India’s defence exports in 2023-24. Last year, India and France also agreed to a defense industry roadmap to deepen cooperation. The Scorpene Submarine project, additional purchases of Rafale Jets and Helicopters, and efforts to produce Indigenous production are underway under this framework.
Indigenous processes are important for India’s defence modernization and the diversification of supplies. India provided France with the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher, the Defense Research and Development Agency, during this visit.
According to the joint statement, the two leaders agreed to work closely together in the implementation of the Indian and Middle Eastern Europe Economic Corridor, which was first discussed at the bystanders of the G20 Summit held in New Delhi in 2023. . The eastern corridors linking India with the Gulf region and the northern corridors connecting the Gulf region with Europe. Includes replenishment of railways, ship rail transit networks and road transport routes.
IMEC aims to provide India with an alternative route to Europe. Despite the challenging security situation in the Middle East, some European countries are keen to position themselves as the main connector. During the visit, France proposed Marseille, located in the Mediterranean, as the strategic hub for the project. Multimodal transport corridors face greater logistical challenges than direct transport routes, but the common geopolitical uncertainty means that India and most European countries have multiple connection options It means that it is likely to continue to support, making IMEC an attractive option.
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Nuclear power, obstacles
France is a pioneer of private nuclear power, with approximately 70% of its electricity coming from nuclear power.
Both leaders emphasized that nuclear energy is a “critical part of the energy mix” to strengthen energy security and strengthen the transition to a low-carbon economy. France is offering to build a nuclear reactor in Jaytapur, Maharashtra. However, these projects face challenges such as high cost and unresolved technical and legal issues. Under the India’s Civil Liability Act for Nuclear Damage 2010, a mechanism was established to compensate victims for potential nuclear accident damage and damages confirming liability. Foreign players cite this as an obstacle to entry.
The Indian government is currently planning to amend both the 2010 Act and the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, which could update interest among French nuclear companies.
However, the focus is currently shifting to small modular reactors (SMR) and advanced modular reactors (AMR) technologies. These small reactors have important advantages, requiring less physical space and lower capital investment. The union budget announced on February 1st announced a nuclear mission worth Rs 20,000 for research and development of SMRS. India and France signed letters of intent on cooperation on AMR and SMR during their visit.
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Professor Gulshan Sachdeva is the Chief Coordinator of Dakshin and Professor of European Studies at the Global South Center of Excellence, RIS in New Delhi and JNU.
