Why is it in the News?

FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron will visit India as Chief Guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations, the Ministry of External Affairs said Friday, days after it became clear that US President Joe Biden will be unavailable.

Context:

• The Ministry of External Affairs in India has announced that French President Emmanuel Macron is set to honour the 75th Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest.
• This decision comes in the wake of the unavailability of US President Joe Biden, marking the sixth occasion where a French leader will partake in the Republic Day festivities.

An Overview of  Bilateral Relations Between France and India:

• Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1948, India and France have enjoyed 75 years of close and friendly relations.
• In 1998, India and France elevated their diplomatic relationship to a Strategic Partnership which completed 25 years in January 2023.
• This Strategic Partnership, the first for France outside the EU, has been instrumental in the comprehensive growth of the India-France relationship.

Key Elements of India-France Cooperation:

• Economic Ties: Both nations share substantial bilateral investments and engage in trade and commercial cooperation, particularly in sectors like IT corridors, smart cities, railways, capital and trade exchanges, and skill development.
  • Bilateral trade witnessed a notable 7.72% increase, reaching $13.4 billion in 2022-23
• Defence Partnership: The Agreement on Defence Cooperation, initially signed in 2006 and extended for an additional decade in 2016, serves as the overarching framework for all collaborative defence activities between India and France.
• Space Collaboration: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the French Space Agency (CNES) collaborate on various joint research programs and satellite launches.
  • An example is the successful launch of the GSAT-24 communication satellite in June 2022.
• Civil Nuclear Cooperation: Formalized in 2008, the agreement on civil nuclear cooperation endorses joint efforts.
  • India's involvement in ITER, a multinational initiative constructing an experimental fusion reactor in Cadarache, France, further solidifies this partnership.
• Trilateral Engagements: Beyond bilateral discussions, both nations engage in separate trilateral institutional exchanges, with India participating in dialogues alongside Australia and France collaborating with the UAE.
• Marine and Maritime Partnership: The Indo-French Maritime Cooperation, guided by the India-France Roadmap on Blue Economy and Ocean Governance adopted in 2022, underscores joint efforts in marine and maritime domains.
• Digital Collaboration: The India-France Roadmap on Cybersecurity and Digital Technologies, a result of the 2019 visit by the Prime Minister of India to France, underlines the commitment to digital cooperation.
• Cultural and Tourism Relations: Numerous Indo-French cultural associations orchestrate events across France.
  • For instance, the 'Namaste France' cultural festival organized by the Government of India in 2016 showcased the rich cultural tapestry.
• Indian Community in France: Comprising around 109,000 individuals, including NRIs, the Indian community in mainland France has roots in French enclaves like Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, Mahe, and Chandernagore.
• Unified Stand on NATO+: Both nations share a stance against the NATO-plus partnership plans, with France publicly expressing disapproval and India rejecting the notion, emphasizing that NATO is not a template applicable to its geopolitical context."

Agreement Between India and France on Various Global and Regional Matters:

• UN Security Council and UN Reforms: France has consistently endorsed India's pursuit of a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and the broader reforms within the United Nations.
• Support in International Groups: France played a crucial role in India's inclusion in significant international forums such as the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), and Australia Group (AG).
  • Furthermore, France continues to back India's bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
• Reciprocal Support in Regional Organizations: India actively supported France's membership in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and in turn, France backed India's observer status in the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).
• Joint Efforts Against Terrorism: Both nations have consistently condemned terrorism and are committed to collaborating for the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) within the United Nations framework.
• Shared Concerns on Climate Change: There is a significant convergence of views between India and France on issues related to climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable development.
  • An illustrative instance is the joint announcement of the creation of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) during the 2015 Paris COP21.
  • This alliance aims to promote solar energy as a crucial resource in transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Challenges in the Bilateral Relationship:

• Trade Limitations: Although the diplomatic relations between France and India are positive, the absence of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) poses a hurdle, restricting the full realization of trade potential.
  • Additionally, the slow progress on the India-EU Broad-Based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) exacerbates this challenge.
• Divergent Approaches in Defence and Security Cooperation: Despite a robust defence partnership, differences in priorities and approaches between India and France may influence their defence and security cooperation.
  • India's regional focus and adherence to a "non-aligned" policy could occasionally clash with France's global interests.
• Intellectual Property Rights Concerns: France has expressed apprehensions regarding India's perceived inadequate protection of intellectual property rights.
  • This concern has implications for French businesses operating within India, creating a point of contention in the bilateral relationship.

Importance of India’s Invitation to the French President for the 75th Republic Day Celebrations:

• The selection of the French President as the chief guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi is driven by a multifaceted set of considerations, incorporating strategic, diplomatic, business, global geopolitical, and bilateral engagement imperatives.
• This year holds particular significance as both nations commemorate the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership.
• The reciprocal nature of high-level visits underscores the strength of the relationship: the Indian Prime Minister was the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade in Paris on July 14, 2023, and President Macron visited India for the G-20 Summit on September 8-9, 2023.
• Notably, in 2022, the Indian Prime Minister made a special stopover in Paris, marking the first meeting between world leaders and President Macron after his re-election for a second term.
  • This visit followed the Indian PM's return from Denmark.
• In essence, India's invitation to the French President serves as a significant gesture, symbolizing and reinforcing the profound depth of the bilateral relationship between the two nations.