India and France have held high-level discussions aimed at strengthening their strategic partnership, with a focus on deepening defence cooperation and advancing space collaboration.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval recently concluded a visit to Paris where he engaged in bilateral strategic dialogue with Emmanuel Bonne, the French president’s diplomatic advisor. Doval also met with French armed forces minister Sébastien Lecornu and President Emmanuel Macron.
The talks centered around several key areas, including India's potential acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine jets for the Indian Navy and an order for three additional Kalvari-class submarines, a variant of the French Scorpene submarine.
India already operates 36 Rafale jets as part of its air force and six Kalvari-class submarines in its naval fleet. Commercial discussions regarding the Rafale Marine jets have been ongoing for over a year.
"Their dialogue aimed at deepening bilateral defence cooperation and advancing space collaboration, while also sharing insights on the evolving international geopolitical landscape," the Indian embassy in Paris stated on X (formerly Twitter). Lecornu confirmed this on his own X account, specifically mentioning the Rafale Marine jets, Scorpene submarines, and space collaboration as topics of discussion.
Beyond defence cooperation, Doval and Bonne led strategic dialogue focusing on the "Indo-Pacific and beyond, and from cyber to space," according to the Indian embassy. This dialogue underscores the commitment of both nations to the "Horizon 2047 roadmap," a framework for close cooperation across various strategic areas leading up to the year 2047.
Doval conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings to President Macron and reiterated India’s commitment to the roadmap. Macron emphasized the importance of joint efforts between India and France to promote peace and address global challenges, expressing appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives in this regard.
The meeting between Doval and Lecornu comes amidst reports that the French government recently submitted a final price offer to India for the Rafale Marine jets. These jets would be deployed on India's INS Vikrant aircraft carrier.
This strategic dialogue marks a significant step in the growing relationship between India and France, two key players in the Indo-Pacific region. France remains one of India's closest strategic partners in the West and a crucial supplier of advanced military equipment.
