India and France are set to commemorate 25 years of strong military ties with an upcoming visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, who will preside over India's Republic Day celebrations
next month. This marks a significant milestone in the strategic partnership, fostering billions of euros in arms deals benefiting France's defense industry.
The invitation extended to Macron by Delhi follows a declined offer to US President Joe Biden to be the guest of honor at the January 26 parade. Macron's attendance will make him the sixth French leader to participate in the annual military spectacle since 1976.
In reciprocation, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be returning the honor after being invited by Macron to attend France's traditional military parade on Bastille Day last year.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized the substantial alignment between India and France on various regional and global issues, underscoring their strategic partnership.
This visit will mark the second meeting between Macron and Modi since September, where both leaders pledged to elevate India-France relations during discussions at the Delhi G20 summit.
While diplomatic ties between France and India trace back to 1948, their defense cooperation significantly deepened with the establishment of the "Indo-French Strategic Partnership" in January 1998, paving the way for their comprehensive bilateral relationship.
France holds a pivotal position as India's closest strategic partner in Europe and stands as its second-largest arms supplier, surpassing the US last year. French military equipment now constitutes 29 percent of India's defense imports, with ongoing hopes for increased collaboration.
Macron's visit announcement coincided with French aerospace firm Dassault's response to Delhi's request for 26 Rafale fighter jets, valued at €5.4 billion, for the Indian navy. This addition supplements the 36 Rafales procured by India for €8 billion in 2016 to bolster its ground forces against China.
Moreover, France is slated to construct three Scorpene submarines valued at €3.2 billion, supplementing the six already built in a Mumbai shipyard. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is expected to position France as a frontrunner in selling over 100 war jets, valued at €22 billion, to India.
Beyond military transactions, bilateral trade between France and India exceeded €12 billion in the last fiscal year. France has emerged as the 11th largest foreign investor in India, with an inflow of €9.5 billion between 2000 and 2023.
The strategic partnership also encompasses cooperation in space and nuclear power, although progress on establishing the Jaitapur nuclear power plant has encountered hurdles due to India seeking guarantees aligned with a law necessitating full compensation in the event of a nuclear accident.
While both countries have robust space collaborations, the completion of the Jaitapur nuclear project on India's west coast, capable of powering 70 million homes, has faced delays owing to concerns regarding liability laws. The Civil Liability Nuclear Damage Act, passed in 2010, has impeded efforts by various countries, including the US and Japan, to establish atomic power plants in India.
Notably, Russia remains the sole country that has successfully constructed an Indian nuclear plant, predating the liability law, marking a unique exception in India's nuclear energy landscape. Photo by Sanyam Bahga from Roorkee, Wikimedia commons.