India, France to strengthen defence ties
India and France finalized their defence industrial roadmap and a slew of different strategically essential agreements on Friday throughout French President Emmanuel Macron’s go to to New Delhi.
The brand new roadmap is anticipated to assist the Indian and French defence sectors to associate in initiatives requiring joint designing and manufacturing, mentioned international secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra at a press convention right here. The main focus can be on air, house, maritime, land warfare, robotics and synthetic intelligence know-how, amongst different areas. New Delhi and Paris had agreed to pursue the roadmap throughout Prime Minister Modi’s go to to France in July 2023.
Two sides additionally agreed on a letter of intent to spice up defence house cooperation. The objective, Kwatra mentioned, is to boost house situational consciousness, stopping collisions in house and different actions like earth monitoring and distant sensing. New House India Ltd (NSIL) additionally signed an MoU with France’s Arianespace on satellite tv for pc launch capabilities.
Kwatra additionally introduced that Tata and Airbus are set to determine a ultimate meeting line (FAL) to make H125 helicopters in India. The 2 corporations additionally hope to export the helicopter to neighbouring international locations. Airbus said that the transfer was a push ahead the “Make in India” marketing campaign.
Nevertheless, the go to didn’t see a significant announcement on the acquisition of Rafale marine plane or Scorpene submarines from India. “The visits will not be centered on particular person transactions,” Kwatra mentioned in response to queries on the standing of the offers.
Modi and Macron held talks in Jaipur on bilateral ties and different regional and world points. The continuing Crimson Sea disaster and the Ukraine struggle additionally featured within the discussions.
“Close to developments within the Crimson Sea, the potential disruptions and the precise issues taking place within the maritime area there that are inflicting disruption to industrial delivery, is a matter of significant concern and each leaders centered on it,” Kwatra mentioned.
He additionally confirmed that an settlement was reached on mobility for younger professionals and said {that a} five-year Schengen visa provision for Indian college students finishing their Masters in France can be activated.
New Delhi and Paris additionally mentioned the controversy surrounding French journalist Vanessa Dougnac. In response to quite a few stories, Dougnac was requested by the Indian authorities to elucidate why her OCI card shouldn’t be withdrawn after allegations of “malicious” reporting. Kwatra defined that the matter had been mentioned by the 2 sides but in addition said that the case issues whether or not Dougnac was complying with the suitable guidelines and laws.
Exterior affairs minister S. Jaishankar additionally met along with his counterpart, Stephane Sejourne, throughout the go to. Macron was accompanied by a 40-member delegation. On Friday, he attended India’s seventy fifth Republic Day parade because the chief visitor. Macron is the fifth French chief to obtain this honour and the fourth consecutive French President to be the chief visitor on the celebrations. This was additionally Macron’s third go to to India, after his earlier visits in 2018 and 2023.
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Revealed: 26 Jan 2024, 07:38 PM IST
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