Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France from 13 July to 14 July, which holds a place in the international arena. There were two major reasons for Modi to visit France. First, he had been invited by French President Emmanuel Macron as a guest of honour for the National Day of France, Bastille Day, which falls on July 14. Secondly, that visit also marked the 25th anniversary of the Franco-Indian Strategic Partnership and its continuation through “Horizon-2047.” The strategic partnership between both states is a bilateral agreement made between French President Jacques Chirac and Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The partnership between India and France started when India emerged on the world map in 1947, but afterward, in 1998 it turned into a Strategic Partnership. Both India and France possess similar attributes keeping in view their history of politics in the international realm, and that finds a common reason for both countries to move towards multipolarity in the South Asian region and the European region respectively to have strategic autonomy.
The recent visit by Modi had great significance for both India and France in terms of defence, economy, cultural diplomacy, and climate issues as well. This visit also paved the way for the continuation of the strategic partnership by providing a roadmap under the project “Horizon-2047” for the next 25 years. Under the project “Horizon-2047,” there would be cooperation in the sectors such as defence, nuclear energy, space technology, cultural exchanges, and much more. Due to the strategic partnership with France, both states agreed to the Rafale jet deal (36 planes) in 2016 and the European pressurized water reactors (EPR) to be installed in 2018 at the Jaitapur nuclear power project.
Keeping in view the historical evidence, France, when becoming a nuclear power in the European region, was focused more on autonomy, independence from the great powers (the USA and Russia, then the USSR), and its position at the international level at that time. India also started its nuclear weapons programme not because of security reasons but to attain the status of a powerful and modern state and to cherish the weapon for its popularity in domestic politics as well. Moreover, in the recent times of violation of human rights in Manipur, France did not raise its voice for those people who are abused due to the strategic partnership with India. India followed suit when an Algerian immigrant teenager in France was brutally killed. So, in terms of diplomatic ties, both countries are very well-knotted with each other and support the autonomy of their countries at the global and regional level from external pressures to ensure their self-interest.
In contemporary times, both the leader,s PM Modi and President Macron, are seen as “balance shapers.” Both Modi and Macron followed the footsteps of Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru and French President Charles de Gaulle at the global level. India and France seem to oppose the global hegemony of a superpower. Both have a vision of multipolarity and are striving to reduce their reliance on global powers. For instance, France and India are moving towards having strategic partnerships and mutual defence agreements with different countries at different levels i.e., bilateral and multilateral. The strategic partnership between France and India is one example of defence cooperation.
Furthermore, India is a member of the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and its active participation propagates its strategic autonomy in its decisions which makes the idea of multipolarity flourish because India is playing wisely with both the USA and Russia, and it is evident from the stance of India on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
India and France are sometimes seen as criticizing the policies and dominant position of the USA. For instance, despite the sanctions on Russia, the crude oil of Russia accounted for about 40 percent of the imports of India in May 2023 with denting of the imports of India from Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The same direction of policies can be observed from France’s perspective. Despite supporting the USA and the European Union in sanctioning Russia and condemning Russia in the Ukraine war, France is still importing oil from Russia. It resonates with Macron’s “allied, but not aligned” strategy and Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s stance on international issues based on the national interest of India and the Indian people.
The strategic partnership between India and France illustrates how a country like India in the global South is making its place in the global arena and is taking steps for the emergence of a multipolar system in which India has its place. In the same way, Pakistan must actively engage itself with emerging powers at the global and regional level because Pakistan has the potential to outstrip India because of its location and its strength.
India has profoundly developed its diplomatic efforts and crystalized its stance in a very stable manner over the period. India remained non-aligned during the Cold War era when the world was divided into two poles. Later, it has done what was good for its country at the international and regional levels and for the interest of its people.
This kind of diplomatic effort gets its strength when the government or stakeholders of a country are serious about the betterment of its people, such that India has been engaged with both Russia and the USA even after so much pressure from the superpower, the USA. Pakistan also needs to diminish those diplomatic efforts from aligning with the emerging states or the so-called superpower (USA) into mutually agreed upon partnerships. The paramount focal point of the diplomatic efforts of emerging global powers such as China is flexibility and openness. In the same way, Pakistan needs to have a stable democratic process that could endeavour for neutral and flexible public diplomacy efforts and engage with any state based on parity and mutual national interests of the respective people.
The Indo-French strategic partnership presents a crystal-clear example of the mutually agreed upon agreement between two states to foster advancements in different fields. This also insinuates the efforts to promote a multipolar world system which may be more peaceful than a world order that is controlled by a sole superpower.
The strategic partnership between India and France illustrates how a country like India in the global South is making its place in the global arena and is taking steps for the emergence of a multipolar system in which India has its place. In the same way, Pakistan must actively engage itself with emerging powers at the global and regional level because Pakistan has the potential to outstrip India because of its location and its strength.
