(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
India and France have agreed to deepen their bilateral partnership in high-end technologies, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday, following the India-France Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held on Monday in Paris. The consultations, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Anne-Marie Descôtes, Secretary-General of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, laid the groundwork for further collaboration.
The talks took place ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned visit to Paris on February 10-11 for the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. The MEA confirmed both sides agreed to expand cooperation in high-end technology sectors.
Discussions focused on a range of bilateral cooperation areas, including defence, civil nuclear energy, space, cybersecurity, digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI). The two countries also reviewed progress on the India-France ‘Horizon 2047 roadmap’. Other topics included institutional dialogue mechanisms and initiatives to enhance people-to-people exchanges and cultural ties.
Climate change and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific were also on the agenda, as well as joint development projects in third countries.
In addition, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held meetings with Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to the French President. The two sides also convened a session of the India-France Special Task Force on Civil Nuclear Energy.
In a related development, India and France announced on Monday their agreement to jointly assess threats to maritime security in the region. This initiative, aimed at countering piracy, armed robbery, maritime terrorism, contraband smuggling and illegal fishing, was agreed upon during the 7th India-France Maritime Cooperation Dialogue in New Delhi on January 14.
The MEA confirmed both countries would explore opportunities for coordinated surveillance to address these threats, enhancing information exchange via existing frameworks. These include the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram, the Regional Coordination Operations Centre in Seychelles, and the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre in Madagascar.
France, a key player in the Indian Ocean, has bases in the region where its military assets are stationed. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime security and enhancing cooperation in the Indian Ocean, which remains a crucial element of the India-France strategic partnership.
France also welcomed India’s participation in the Combined Maritime Forces and looked forward to India assuming leadership of the appropriate Combined Task Forces.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});