G20 Summit: PM Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron pledge to strengthen India-France defence ties

During their meeting at the G20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed their commitment to enhancing the defence cooperation between India and France. They emphasized the importance of collaborating on the design, development, and production of advanced defence systems, even for other nations in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, they urged for the swift completion of the planned defence industrial roadmap.

A joint statement on the Modi-Macron talks said they acknowledged “good progress” in discussions for the Jaitapur nuclear project and welcomed engagement of both sides to expand cooperation to establish a partnership for co-developing SMR (small modular reactors) and AMR (advanced modular reactors) technologies as well as the forthcoming firming up of a “dedicated declaration” of intent. During a media briefing, Macron discussed the strategic partnership between India and France, highlighting that it goes beyond just bilateral cooperation. He stressed the importance of both countries collaborating to counter the global trend of increasing fragmentation.

Macron also characterized the India-France relationship as highly robust and, although not specifying details, mentioned that there would be more contracts and acquisitions in the months and years ahead. “French people were very proud and they felt the friendship and respect for your country,” he said. “As G20 president, India did its best to send across a message of unity and peace to the world while Russia was still waging its aggression against Ukraine,” Macron said.

The statement said both leaders reiterated their commitment to strengthen the defence cooperation through partnership in design, development, testing and manufacture of advanced defence technologies and platforms, and expand production in India, including for third countries in the Indo-Pacific. “In this context, they also called for early finalisation of the defence industrial roadmap,” it said. “The two leaders discussed overall progress and next steps on the implementation of the new and ambitious goals for cooperation in areas of defence, space, nuclear energy, digital public infrastructure, critical technology, , education, and people-to-people contacts”, it added.

“They also carried forward their discussions on India-France partnership in the Indo Pacific region and Africa, including in infrastructure, connectivity, energy, biodiversity, sustainability and industrial projects,” the statement said. During the media briefing, Macron did not provide a response to a question regarding the timeline for finalizing the deal for India’s acquisition of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy. In July, India had given approval for the purchase of these naval variant Rafale jets from France, as well as for the procurement of three French-designed Scorpene class submarines.

The joint statement said the two leaders also discussed, assessed and reviewed the progress in bilateral relations since their last meeting in July in Paris. Modi had graced the Bastille Day parade on July 14 as the guest of honour. The statement also referred to acknowledgement by the two leaders to the “strength of India France partnership, founded in deep trust, shared values, belief in sovereignty and strategic autonomy, a resolute commitment to international law and principles enshrined in the UN Charter”.

It said Modi and Macron emphasised the need to expand India-France collaboration to address regional and global challenges. “They reiterated their unwavering commitment to collectively serve as a force of good, carrying the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ that is ‘one earth, one family, one future’, during tumultuous times reshaping the global order,” it said. The two leaders recalled six decades of India-France Space cooperation and reviewed the progress since holding of the first strategic space dialogue in June 2023.

Modi and Macron also emphasised the need to expand Indo-French collaboration to address regional and global challenges. “They reiterated their unwavering commitment to collectively serve as a force of good, carrying the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ that is ‘one earth, one family, one future’, during tumultuous times reshaping the global order,” the statement said. “Laying emphasis on areas such as digital, science, technological innovation, education, culture, health and environment cooperation, both leaders called for strengthening of institutional linkages in these domains, on the model of the Indo-French Campus for the Indo-Pacific,” it said.

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