Deepening The French Connection

PRESIDENT MACRON’S INDIA VISIT COMES AT A TIME WHEN FRANCE’S STATURE IN EUROPE HAS INCREASED WHILE NEW DELHI IS SEEKING A GREATER INTERNATIONAL ROLE FOR ITSELF

- Kanwal Sibal

PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON’S FORTHCOMING visit should provide a further fillip to India-France ties, which have long roots and are important for both countries. France has considerable weight in international affairs because of its permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, nuclear weapons status, pivotal position within the European Union, the size of its economy, the advanced technologies at its command, a large defence manufacturing base, contribution to global agendas and soft power, deriving from its language, culture, cuisine, the arts and so on.

The foundations of our ties are strong and time-tested. France was the first country with which we established a strategic partnership (in 1998). Our defence ties date back to the 1950s, with France supplying high quality defence equipment that has served us well. While the contracts for six Scorpene submarines and 36 Rafale aircraft fortify these ties, the proposals for light utility helicopters, refuelling aircraft, joint development and manufacture of short-range missiles have not fructified. Generally speaking, our dilatory and ever-changing procurement procedures, the taint of corruption marking defence deals and the tendering process biased mechanically in favour of the lowest bidder have hindered decisions on defence procurement with the goal of nurturing strategic relationships. The controversy generated around the Rafale contract because of party politics ignores its potentially adverse affect on future transactions. Questioning the probity of this government-to-government deal, with a view to scoring political points, has, unfortunately, continued in the lead-up to Macron’s visit.