Following the former’s two-day visit in France, French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a joint statement in which they reiterated their shared vision for bilateral collaboration and international engagement. The two presidents praised the advancements made in their bilateral collaboration and pledged to keep it moving forward.
The joint statement states that the two leaders talked about a number of difficult subjects during their bilateral discussions, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Indo-Pacific region. They also talked about strategic collaboration and partnerships in fields including space, nuclear energy, and defense. They also discussed about working together in the domains of innovation and technology.
The Indian government stated, “The talks covered all aspects of the India-France strategic partnership. The two leaders reviewed cooperation in the strategic areas of Defense, Civil Nuclear Energy and Space. They also discussed ways to strengthen collaboration in the fields of Technology and Innovation. This area of partnership assumes greater salience in the backdrop of the just concluded AI Action Summit and the upcoming India-France Year of Innovation in 2026. The leaders also called for enhancing trade and investment ties and in his regard welcomed the report of the 14th India-France CEOs Forum”.
On Tuesday, Modi and Macron took the French Presidential Aircraft flight from Paris and Marseille.
They pledged to increase participation in international forums and initiatives as well as in the Indo-Pacific region.
What was stated in the joint statement?
The two leaders had bilateral talks on global and regional issues as well as the full range of extraordinarily robust and complex bilateral cooperation, according to the joint statement.
The statement continued, “Both leaders also went to Marseille where President Macron hosted a private dinner for Prime Minister Modi, reflecting the excellent relationship between the two leaders. They jointly inaugurated India’s Consulate General in Marseille. They also visited the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor facility”.
In order to maintain a just and peaceful international order, handle urgent global issues, and get the world ready for new developments—including in the fields of technology and the economy—PM Modi reaffirmed their support for reformed and effective multilateralism.
It added, “The two leaders stressed, in particular, the urgent need for the reform of the United Nations Security Council and agreed to coordinate closely in multilateral fora, including on UNSC matters. France reiterated its firm support for India’s permanent membership of the UNSC. The two leaders agreed to strengthen conversations on the regulation of the use of the veto in case of mass atrocities. They held extensive discussions on long-term global challenges and current international developments and agreed to intensify their global and regional engagement, including through multilateral initiatives and institutions”.
In the area of defense cooperation, the two leaders praised the advancements made in the joint construction of Scorpene submarines in India, including indigenization. They specifically praised the work done to integrate the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), developed by the DRDO, into P75-Scorpene submarines and the analyses done on the potential integration of the Integrated Combat System (ICS) into the upcoming P75-AS submarines.
On January 15, 2025, both leaders celebrated the commissioning of INS Vaghsheer, the sixth and last submarine in the P75 Scorpene-class project. The continuing talks on jet engines, helicopter engines, and missiles were welcomed by both parties. They further praised the outstanding collaboration between their Indian counterparts and the pertinent Safran group companies. In addition, Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to the French Army to examine the Pinaka MBRL in further detail, stressing that France’s purchase of this system would mark yet another significant development in Indo-French defense cooperation. President Macron also praised the inclusion of India as an observer in the Eurodrone MALE program run by OCCAR, citing it as another example of how our defense equipment collaboration is becoming stronger.
Modi and Macron discussed a wide range of global topics, such as the conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East. They decided to keep up their coordination efforts and maintain regular close engagement.
The two leaders reaffirmed their shared dedication to an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, safe, and peaceful.
Along with denouncing cross-border terrorism, they demanded that safe havens and networks used to finance terrorism be disrupted.
The statement reads, “The two leaders reaffirmed their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. They called for the disruption of terrorism financing networks and safe havens. They further agreed that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts. The leaders also called for concerted action against all terrorists, including through designations of individuals affiliated with groups that are listed by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee. The two sides emphasized the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, consistent with Financial Action Task Force recommendations. Both countries reiterated their commitment to work together in FATF, No Money For Terror (NMFT) and other multilateral platforms”.
Read Also: CBI Court Convicts Ex-Chief Manager Of Bank Of India In Bank Fraud Case Of Rs 80 Lakh
