India and France on Tuesday upgraded their ties to a “special global strategic partnership” and pledged to strengthen cooperation in defence, trade and essential minerals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron characterized bilateral relationship as a “force for global stability” amid growing international geopolitical volatility.
The Prime Minister recalled the Russian-Ukrainian war, tensions in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific region and emphasized that India and France they are committed to democratic principles, the rule of law and a multipolar global order.
“The world is going through a period of uncertainty. In such an environment, the Indo-French partnership is a force for global stability. We bring together French expertise and India’s scale,” Modi said in a statement to the media.
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“We agree that reforming global institutions will provide solutions to global challenges. Whether in Ukraine, West Asia or the Indo-Pacific, we will continue to support all efforts for peace in every region,” Modi said.
“It is our common commitment to eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he added.
Macron said India and France will continue to work together to fight terrorism.
After the meeting in Mumbai, the two leaders also virtually launched an assembly plant in Vemagal, Karnataka, dedicated to the production of Airbus H125 helicopters, a move expected to boost India’s aerospace manufacturing sector.
The states have signed 21 treaties and documents to strengthen cooperation in various fields, including strategic minerals, defense, advanced technology, sustainable energy and health.
The agreements included a defense cooperation agreement and a joint initiative between Bharat Electronics Ltd and French major Safran to manufacture Hammer missiles in India. Another memorandum was signed regarding the reciprocal posting of military officers between the Indian Army and the French Land Forces.
The Modi-Macron dialogue comprehensively covered a range of topics including defense and security synergy, trade and capital investment, co-production, logistics of critical minerals, research and innovation and academic exchange.
The prime minister said the two countries share a “very special relationship” and that France is one of India’s oldest strategic partners.
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“And together with President Macron, we have given unprecedented depth and energy to this strategic partnership. Based on this trust and shared vision, we today establish our relationship as a ‘Special Global Strategic Partnership’,” Modi said.
“This partnership is not just strategic. In today’s turbulent times, it is a partnership of global stability and global progress,” he said.
The prime minister welcomed Macron to the summit shortly after the French president flew into Mumbai to begin a three-day official visit to India.