Modi’s France visit is another investment in a bilateral relationship most consequential for both countries

 France, which is hosting PM Modi, is perhaps India’s most reliable strategic partner and certainly the oldest one. The two countries are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their strategic ties. The bilateral relationship is, after the one with the US, the second-most consequential for India. Both New Delhi and Paris set much store in their independent foreign policy. Recall that France had opposed sanctions against India in the aftermath of the 1998 nuclear test. Add to this the development of solid defence ties between the two countries, with France supplying critical platforms like modern fighter jets and submarines to the Indian military.

 Between 2018 and 2022, France emerged as India’s second largest defence supplier, accounting for 29% of the country’s imports. That defence footprint is expected to increase further during Modi’s visit with the possible announcement of New Delhi’s procurement of 26 Rafale jets for the navy and an additional three Scorpene submarines. Should these materialise, it will help India further hedge against the disruptions wrought by the Ukraine war that has made Russian defence supplies and maintenance unreliable.

 There is another geopolitical dynamic bringing India and France closer. Within the Trans-Atlantic alliance system, the Anglo-American partnership increasingly sees France as having failed to live up to its strategic potential, especially given Paris’s missteps in Africa. The formation of AUKUS in 2021 that cut out France exemplified this. But Paris has responded by increasing engagement with countries like India. This obviously helps New Delhi, which can now further increase its collaboration with Paris in areas like the Indo-Pacific. Both India and France are opposed to hegemonic activities – read China – in the region.

 But where the bilateral relationship could do with bolstering is on the economic front. Two-way trade was just $12. 56 billion in 2022-23. Therefore, both sides should redouble efforts to actualise an India-EU FTA as soon as possible. In a global situation characterised by political flux, India and France can play the role of important balancers