On Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French colleague Florence Parly conducted extensive talks focused on strengthening bilateral defence and security cooperation as well as pressing regional challenges. On a two-day tour, Parly landed in Delhi on Thursday evening. Officials had stated that the meetings will include current events in Afghanistan as well as the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo-French strategic alliance is built on three pillars: defence and security, civil nuclear cooperation, and commerce and investment. Furthermore, India and France are expanding their collaboration in new sectors such as the Indian Ocean region, climate change, and long-term growth and development.
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Parly stated at a think-tank ahead of her meeting with Singh that she is in India to emphasise how “valuable” the partnership between France and India is. She characterised India as a “one-of-a-kind” nation with bright colours, breathtaking scenery, and a millennium of rich history. Both India and France support multilateralism and a rules-based international order, according to Parly, who added that it is important to resort to “rock-solid ideas” while the globe and the region are in turmoil.
In this context, Parly discussed how the two sides are coming together on significant problems and global difficulties, such as the battle against climate change. During her official visit, Parly will meet with Ajit Doval, the Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser, to address regional security challenges in particular. At the National War Memorial in Delhi, she will pay homage to India’s warriors. She will also pay her tributes to CDS General Bipin Rawat, who passed very tragically.
This visit, according to the French Embassy, emphasises France’s involvement in the Indo-Pacific and the importance of India in French strategy. Minister Parly will emphasise France and India’s shared commitment to addressing the Indo-difficulties Pacific’s by bringing together friendly states to protect the rule of law, present a positive agenda to the region’s governments, and oppose all kinds of hegemony “According to the embassy,
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In addition, the French Minister will discuss the recently announced EU Strategy for Indo-Pacific Cooperation, which has a multiplier impact on this holistic strategy for the area. The French Minister’s previous visit to India took place on September 10, 2020, for the induction ceremony of the Indian Air Force’s first five Rafale fighter jets. The Minister will reaffirm France’s commitment to bolstering India’s defence industrial base, as well as its desire to provide the best of French technologies with a high “Make in India” component.
