New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held talks in Jaipur on Thursday and agreed to reinforce India-France cooperation in defence, area and civil-nuclear sectors. They additionally signed a defence industrial roadmap and a defence area partnership settlement. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, who briefed the media on Friday, stated the defence industrial roadmap will determine alternatives for co-designing, co-development and co-production of navy {hardware} and constructing defence provide chains. He stated the intention is to fulfill the defence wants of India and France and likewise to contribute to the safety partnership with different international locations.
Kwatra stated the defence area partnership settlement will allow joint work on an area situational consciousness programme, which is necessary for creating navy satellites and sharing info on area visitors and particles.
He additionally stated that Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and Airbus Helicopters have entered into an industrial partnership for joint manufacturing of H125 helicopters in India with a big indigenous and localisation part. He stated Airbus SE will arrange an meeting line in India for the helicopters.
The international secretary stated Modi and Macron additionally mentioned numerous facets of civil-nuclear power cooperation and that there was a really optimistic and ahead leaning dialog on small modular reactors (SMRs). He stated the civil-nuclear cooperation has a number of components corresponding to localisation, monetary viability and value effectiveness and that the discussions are ongoing.
He additionally stated that Modi and Macron exchanged views on the state of affairs within the Red Sea and the potential disruptions that it may well trigger, in addition to the battle in Gaza. He stated there was no announcement on India’s proposed procurement of 26 naval variants of Rafale jets and three Scorpene submarines from France as the worth negotiations are nonetheless underway.
The international secretary stated Modi and Macron additionally firmed up agreements for reinforcing engagement in areas of healthcare, training, coaching, analysis and sustainable improvement. He stated the 12 months 2026 can be celebrated as India-France 12 months of innovation.
He additionally stated Modi and Macron touched upon the continued cooperation between the 2 international locations within the Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific.
Macron, who was the chief visitor on the Republic Day celebrations on the Kartavya Path on Friday, was accompanied by a delegation of senior ministers, officers and high executives of main French defence majors together with Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. He started his two-day go to to India from Jaipur.
The international secretary described the realm of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a comparatively new area area when it comes to dialogue between the 2 international locations.
“Technology needs to come together, viability needs to come together and its positioning in the overall energy mix needs to come together. There was a very positive, forward leaning ongoing conversation between the two countries (on it),” he stated.
An MoU was inked by New Space India Limited (NSIL) and French area company Arianespace for cooperation in satellite tv for pc launches.
Kwatra stated the French facet has all the time been forthcoming in supporting India’s candidacy for the membership of the International Energy Agency.
He additionally stated that following up on a choice taken throughout Modi’s go to to Paris in July final 12 months, the Indian consulate within the southern French metropolis Marseille and the French bureau in Hyderabad at the moment are totally able to be operational.
The defence and strategic ties between India and France have been on an upswing in the previous couple of years.
The two strategic companions additionally expressed dedication to cooperate within the co-development and co-production of superior defence applied sciences, together with for the advantage of third international locations.
The two sides are additionally increasing cooperation within the maritime area together with within the Indian Ocean Region.
(With Agency Inputs)
