With the stormy visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Paris on Wednesday – the third since 2017 – France wanted to restore a new dynamic in cooperation with India on important programs (armaments, especially nuclear). The two countries have been strategic partners since 1998. “The relationship between the two heads of state, the head of state and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is extremely cordial, which assures us in the Élysée of confidence in India and, above all, we have a mature relationship in the sense that we discuss the full range of bilateral relations with India”.
Narendra Modi, who is on a European tour having already visited Germany and Copenhagen for the Nordic countries’ summit, did not announce any new contracts for French industry on Wednesday, as expected. The Indian Prime Minister invited the French President to visit India to “deepen” the started cooperation from defense technologies to the energy transition, after Emmanuel Macron was there only once (in March 2018). “My visit to France was short but very fruitful,” Narendra Modi tweeted. President Emmanuel Macron and I had the opportunity to discuss various topics.” It should also be noted that India has a very close armaments partnership with Russia and does not want to extend it despite the war in Ukraine.
Armament: So what?
After the major orders for Scorpene (submarines sold in 2005) and Rafale (2016), Naval Group and Dassault Aviation are trying to get a second order from Delhi. The Élysée also has this desire to give new impetus to the discussions, especially since the Indians are satisfied with the performance of the Scorpène and the Rafale. “Both parties agreed to build on their mutual trust to find innovative ways to encourage greater French involvement in Atmanirbhar Bharat (Indian Self-Government) campaign efforts in the areas of advanced defense, finished products and exports, particularly through sponsorship the development of partnerships between industrial companies,” read a joint statement by Emmanuel Macron and Narendra Modi, published on Wednesday in the Elysee.
As much as the aircraft maker keeps serious chances of selling Rafales back to the Indian armed forces, particularly the Navy, the naval group in India is going through a complicated time. “We are no longer in the running. We have invested in the information requests phase, but certain conditions of the tender ultimately do not allow us to participate,” the Naval Group told La Presse in late April. In general, the goal of Paris is to “help India strengthen its strategic autonomy and thus be able to take decisions independently towards its partners”, he explains – we at the Elysée. In this context it says: “All the offers that we make to the Indians are based on this principle of strategic autonomy, of independent decisions, and we want to continue on this path”.
The Scorpene contract was already ahead of Narendra Modi’s strategy when he came to power. So, the sixth Indian submarine (Vagsheer) was built entirely by the Indian shipyard Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), thanks to a technology transfer from the Naval Group. It is therefore a long-term work between France and India. Working “in this direction” was the aim of the Élysée at the working meeting with Narendra Modi. “We will build (on the great successes of the past, ed.) to make proposals to continue the discussions, we emphasize at the Élysée Palace. The presidency therefore wants to “discuss the issues on which we will be able to make progress.” To continue dialogue on key sectors where business and the French state are “working hand in hand” with their Indian counterparts.
Nuclear, speeding up the discussions
In the joint statement, France and India agreed that “both parties have reaffirmed their determination to ensure the success of the EPR Jaipatur Strategic Reactor Project, which they have progressed over the past few months to ensure a reliable, affordable and affordable delivery.” low-carbon energy”. In this context, Paris and Delhi “will intensify contacts in the coming months in order to make further progress”. EDF has been trying for many years to implement the project to sell six EPR (Pressurized Water Reactor) type reactors in India at the Jaitapur site in the state of Maharashtra, of which Bombay is the capital.The French energy company hopes to reach an agreement to build six EPR reactors in India “in the coming months,” according to Reuters.
“We have redoubled our efforts to try to complete this project as quickly as possible,” explains the Elysee. We congratulate this acceleration in recent months and the President of the Republic has done the same in his aim of supporting French industry. Given the many parameters of the discussions, we will see where we are at the end of the year, but the main objective is natural to move forward as quickly as possible to build a project that strengthens India’s strategic autonomy “Energy matters”.
Finally, in the joint statement, France recalled “its unwavering support for India’s desire to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council as well as a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group”.
Michael Cabirol
May 05, 2022 11:37 am