India–France in the Indo–Pacific: Building for a Sustainable and Stable Future

For the first time in fourteen years, France has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) from Slovenia in January 2022. French President Emmanuel Macron has laid out his nation’s priorities during this Presidency by enunciating the motto: “Recovery, power and belonging.” As President Macron aims to foster cooperation in Europe by emphasising on sovereignty and strategic autonomy, there will be a renewed focus on multiple issues across Europe, such as economic regulation and accountability of digital platforms, ecological transition or establishing European legislation on minimum wages.

Given the quality of France–India strategic partnership and their shared vision of strategic autonomy, India–EU relations under the French Presidency are likely to gather further momentum after positive developments in 2021, in particular the Porto meeting in May. On the sidelines of the G20 Meeting in Rome and after meeting President Macron, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed with the EU President Ursula von der Leyen the deepening of India–EU relations in areas such as free trade, commerce, renewable energy, culture, and environment in addition to developing greater cooperation in the Indo–Pacific. Given strong bilateral ties between New Delhi and Paris, the French Presidency of the EU naturally has the potential to further galvanise India–EU relations.

This session will build on the developments of the Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo–Pacific on 22 February and highlight key areas of collaboration between India and France in the contemporary geopolitical situation.

The key questions to be discussed include:

How does the EU Indo–Pacific strategy represent Europe’s willingness to play a leading role in emerging regional geopolitics in the region?

What are the main takeaways from the Ministerial Forum for the Indo–Pacific that was held in Paris last month?

How will France’s strategic ties with India influence the EU’s view of India as an Indo–Pacific partner during the French presidency?

The EU has labelled China a strategic competitor while India has played a key role in constructing a deterrent to China through the Quad. Will a French Presidency of the EU help develop some convergence between India and Europe on China policy?

Does the war in Ukraine change the security narrative in the Indo–Pacific?

Speakers

Mohan Kumar
Chairman of Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)

Shayesta Nishat Ahmed
Associate Fellow, National Maritime Foundation

Christophe Penot
French Ambassador to the Indo–Pacific

Valérie Niquet
Senior Research Fellow, Foundation pour la Recherche Strategique

Moderator

Abhijit Singh
Senior Fellow, ORF

#IndoFrenchRelations #IndoPacific #SustainableFuture

[subdriver]

Abhijit, congratulations on generating a very interesting and informative discussion. You brought out most issues and Mr Mohan Kumar' s candid comments stated the reality of the situation.

[subdriver]

There is no doubt that the Indo- French relationship is on a very firm footing and both countries make that extra effort to consolidate it further. EU has its own challenges and the priority varies amongstvmembers. For Europe, Russia, more than China has always been the elephant in the room and now even more so. In most defence conferences that I have attended in Europe, China has been a peripheral discussion with Russia being the primary one. Many European countries do not have the capacity to make a differencevin the I-P . Much has been made of the German frigate's visit to the I-P. Can Germany now afford to position a naval presence in the I-P with its own challenges in the Baltic and N.Atlantic.

[subdriver]

France was understandably miffed with the cancellation of the submarine deal. The clamour for cancellation of the deal had been building because of the cost overuns, design issues etc whichbwere becoming evident by the day. Perhaps the French govt may like to sensitise it's state owned defence industry that geting the contract is not enough; delivering on it is more so.

[rashmikumarrastogi]

What kind of people is NMF hiring and ORF inviting?
Sad state of affairs :/