INDIA AND FRANCE

STRATEGIC PARTNERS IN THE INDO-PACIFIC

- Mrunal Sule

The Indo-Pacific was referenced for the first time in French foreign policy in 2018 and the Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region also was established in 2018, which aims to address various challenges. These challenges include ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight, combating organized crime and trafficking (including weapons of mass destruction, smuggling, and illegal fishing), tackling the impacts of climate change on security, particularly in terms of natural disasters, safeguarding the environment and natural resources (including addressing oil spills), and aiding victims of disasters.

In 2019, the Ministry for the Armed Forces embraced the strategy of "France and Security in the Indo-Pacific," to enhance the effectiveness of its sovereignty and presence forces. The strategy seeks to actively combat proliferation, promote the development of robust regional institutions and partnerships, reinforce the strategic autonomy of France's partners in South-East Asia, and contribute to the mapping of environmental risks in the Indo-Pacific region.

Both nations are actively engaged in collaborative efforts across various domains, including defence, security, economics, connectivity, infrastructure, sustainability, and human-centric development. This partnership proves mutually beneficial for India and France.