India-France Partnership under the Leadership of Emmanuel Macron and Narendra Modi: An Analysis of Strategic Cooperation and Future Prospects
Abstract
The India-France partnership has witnessed significant progress since 2014, particularly under the leadership of President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two countries have deepened their collaboration in a wide range of areas, including defence, space, energy, and technology which also impacted their cultural relations. This research provides an analysis of the strategic cooperation between India and France in the post-2014 period, with a focus on the achievements, challenges, and prospects for future collaboration.
The data is drawn from a range of primary and secondary sources, including official statements, reports, and media coverage. It begins with an overview of the historical context of India-France relations and the evolution of the strategic partnership in recent years. It then examines the key areas of cooperation between the two countries, highlighting the progress made in each of these areas.
Finally, the research explores the future prospects for the India-France partnership, particularly in the context of the changing global order and the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific region. It concludes that the India-France partnership has the potential to be a significant force for stability, prosperity, and security in the region, but will require sustained efforts from both countries to overcome the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities.
Downloads
References
Banerjee, N. (2022, April 30). Relevance of heartland. Times of India Blog. Retrieved March 30, 2023. Available from : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/writingthoughts/relevance-of-heartland-3-42805/
Behera, N. (2017, September 6). Foreign tourist arrivals to grow 18% in 2017. Available from : https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/foreign-tourist-arrivals-to-grow-18-in-2017-117090601058_1.html7
India-France Joint Statement during State visit of President of France to India (March 10, 2018). (n.d.). Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Available from : https://mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/29596
Bharti, Mukesh Shankar. 2022. “Indo-French Defence Cooperation in the Light of Regional Security Balance in South Asia.” Polish Political Science Yearbook 51 (2): 7–18. https://doi.org/10.15804/ppsy202217.2
Bilateral economic relations between France and India at the end of 2021. (n.d.). La France En Inde / France in India. Available from : https://in.ambafrance.org/Bilateral-economic-relations-between-France-and-India-at-the-end-of-2021
Embassy of India, France & Principality of Monaco: Bilateral relations with France. (n.d.). Available from : https://www.eoiparis.gov.in/page/bilateral-relations-with-france/
Embassy of India, France & Principality of Monaco : India-France Economic and Commercial Brief. (n.d.). Available from : https://www.eoiparis.gov.in/page/india-france-economic-and-commercial-relations-brief/#:~:text=France%20is%20the%2011th,and%20Internal%20Trade%20(DPIIT).
Exploring India-France Trade and Economic Relations | IBEF. (n.d.). India Brand Equity Foundation. Available from : https://www.ibef.org/indian-exports/india-france-trade
France-India Space Cooperation – Focus on climate science & space exploration. (n.d.). La France En Inde / France in India. Available from : https://in.ambafrance.org/France-India-Space-Cooperation-Focus-on-climate-science-space-exploration-17935
French Embassy in New Delhi. 2022. “Political Relations and Strategic Partnership.” France in India. September 27, 2022. Available from : https://in.ambafrance.org/Political-relations-and-strategic-partnership
French Investments in India | Companies & Business Opport. (2021, October 1). Invest India. Available from : https://www.investindia.gov.in/country/france
Home | AFD – Agence Française de Développement. (2023, March 30). Available from : https://www.afd.fr/fr (Accessed on 27 March 2023)
Indo-French Relations In The Post-Cold War Period : Transformation From Commercial To Strategic Partnership On Jstor. (n.d.). Available from : https://www.jstor.org/stable/42744029
I. (n.d.). India-France Relations: Exploring New Horizons – Indian Council of World Affairs (Government of India). Available from : https://icwa.in/show_content.php?lang=1&level=3&ls_id=2429&lid=1829
India, France agree on road map for blue economy, ocean governance. (2022, February 23). Available from : https://www.constructionworld.in/transport-infrastructure/highways-and-roads-infrastructure/india--france-agree-on-road-map-for-blue-economy--ocean-governance/32722
India-France joint statement during the visit of prime minister to France (April 9-11, 2015). Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2015, April). Retrieved March 30, 2023, Available from : http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl%2F25053%2FIndia
Infrastructure Development in India: Market Size, Investments, Govt Initiatives | IBEF. (n.d.). India Brand Equity Foundation. Available from : https://www.ibef.org/industry/infrastructure-sector-india
Josy Joseph, “Weʼre Studying Indiaʼs Plan for Buying Fighter Jets: French Envoy,” The Hindu, April 12, 2018, Available from : http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/were-studying-indias-plan-for-buying-fighter-jets-frenchenvoy/article23515840.ece (Accessed on 30 March 2023).
Kristensen, H. M., & Korda, M. (2020, July 20). Indian nuclear forces, 2020. Taylor & Francis. Retrieved March 30, 2023 Available from : https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00963402.2020.1778378
Majumdar, R. (2021, August 4). What's India-France fighter jet deal all about? – DW – 08/03/2021. dw.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023, Available from : https://www.dw.com/en/what-is-the-india-france-rafale-fighter-jet-deal-all-about/a-58743693
Ministry of External Affairs, GoI, “India-France Relations,” October 2017, Available from : https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/2_France_November_2017.pdf (Accessed on 30 March 2023)
Ministry of External Affairs, GoI, English Translation of Press Statement by Prime Minister during the State visit of President of France to India (March 10, 2018), Available from : http://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visitdetail.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), “India-France Joint Statement during the visit of Prime Minister to France (April 9-11, 2015)”, [Online: Web] Accessed 30 March 2023, Available from : https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateraldocuments.htm?dtl/25053/IndiaFrance_Joint_Statement_during_the_visit_of_Prime_Minister_to_France_April_911_2015.
Ministry of External Affairs. (2022a). Indo-French call for an “Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership” Joint Declaration Paris 22nd of February, 2022. Government of India. Available from : https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/35000/ (accessed: 31 March 2023).
Mohan, C. R., & Baruah, D. M. (2018, February 26). Deepening the India-france maritime partnership. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved March 31, 2023, Available from : https://carnegieendowment.org/files/Mohan_Baruah_Deepening_The_India_France_Maritime_Partnership.pdf.
Pandey, P. (2019, September 24). Indian Council of World Affairs. India-France Maritime Cooperation in the Indian Ocean: Enhancing the Strategic Partnership – Indian Council of World Affairs (Government of India). Retrieved March 31, 2023, Available from : https://www.icwa.in/show_content.php?lang=1&level=3&ls_id=4782&lid=2496
Pratnashree Basu, ed, Brass Tacks: Unpacking the Indo-Pacific Template, (New Delhi: ORF and Global Policy Journal, 2021).
Rajagopalan, R. P. (2022). Strengthening the France-India Partnership. Observer Research Foundation. Available from : https://policycommons.net/artifacts/2437260/strengthening-the-france-india-partnership/
Reuters. (2018, March 10). France signs deals worth $16 billion in India; to deepen defense, security ties. Reuters. Retrieved March 30, 2023, Available from : https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-france-contracts-idUSKBN1GM088
Roger, C. (n.d.). Indo-French Defence Cooperation.Retrieved March 27, 2023, Available from : https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/55131/IPCS-ResearchPaper7-Constance.pdf.
Sempa, F. P. (2014, December 30). The geopolitical vision of Alfred Thayer Mahan. – The Diplomat. Retrieved March 31, 2023, Available from : https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/the-geopolitical-vision-of-alfred-thayer-mahan/#:~:text=He%20famously%20listed%20six%20fundamental,successor%20to%20the%20British%20Empire.
Singh, S. (2019, December 31). India's strategic partnership with France under Modi regime. Academia.edu. Retrieved March 30, 2023, Available from : https://www.academia.edu/41474684/Indias_Strategic_Partnership_with_France_Under_Modi_Regime (Pp 277)
Shinzo Abe, “Confluence of the Two Seas,” (speech, Parliament of the Republic of India, August 22, 2007, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Available from : https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/pmv0708/speech-2.html
Sood, R. (2020). Why France is a reliable strategic partner for India. Observer Research Foundation. Available from : https://policycommons.net/artifacts/1351577/why-france-is-a-reliable-strategic-partner-for-india/
Website of Ministry of External Affairs| National Portal of India. (n.d.). Available from : https://www.india.gov.in/website-ministry-external-affairs
Williams, L. (2013). Indians in France : an increasingly diverse population. Cadmus EUI. Available from : https://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/29492
Abstract views: 294 PDF Downloads: 235
Copyright (c) 2023 Akshithaa Singh, Tanya Kala

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The authors agree with the following conditions:
1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication (Download agreement) with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2. Authors have the right to complete individual additional agreements for the non-exclusive spreading of the journal’s published version of the work (for example, to post work in the electronic repository of the institution or to publish it as part of a monograph), with the reference to the first publication of the work in this journal.
3. Journal’s politics allows and encourages the placement on the Internet (for example, in the repositories of institutions, personal websites, SSRN, ResearchGate, MPRA, SSOAR, etc.) manuscript of the work by the authors, before and during the process of viewing it by this journal, because it can lead to a productive research discussion and positively affect the efficiency and dynamics of citing the published work (see The Effect of Open Access).