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The Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France from February 10 to 12 at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.

PM visit to France had two key dimensions:

• AI Action Summit: He co-chaired the summit with French President Emmanuel Macron.
• Consolidating India-France ties: The two countries reviewed the ‘Horizon 2047’ Roadmap agreed upon two years ago and strengthened their strategic partnership, which was elevated in 1998.

France a reliable partner for India

Both countries prefer a multipolar world.

They are committed to addressing climate change, especially after the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.

France has been a key and reliable source of defence equipment for India, alongside Russia.

France abstained from imposing sanctions on India after the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, building trust between the two nations.

The ‘Horizon 2047’ Roadmap signed in 2022 outlines the long-term vision for India-France strategic partnership.  

Key areas of India-France defence cooperation

• The Scorpene submarine project.
• Purchases of Rafale jets and helicopters.
• Efforts toward indigenous production under the Defence Industrial Roadmap.
• India’s offer of the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher to France.
• Collaboration in multilateral forums like the UN Security Council and shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

France proposed Marseille, located on the Mediterranean Sea, as a strategic hub for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). 

Civil nuclear energy cooperation  

France has offered to build nuclear power reactors in Jaitapur, Maharashtra. However, the project faces challenges such as high costs, unresolved technical issues, and India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act, 2010.

The Indian government is planning amendments to the 2010 Act and the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, which could renew French interest in nuclear projects.

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs)

SMRs and AMRs are smaller nuclear reactors with advantages such as:

• Requiring less physical space.
• Lower capital investment.
• Flexibility in deployment.

India and France signed a letter of intent during the visit to cooperate on SMR and AMR technologies.

Address climate change together

Both countries stressed that nuclear energy is an essential part of the energy mix for reducing carbon emissions. They also collaborate on multilateral platforms like the Paris Agreement, especially after the US withdrawal, to advance global climate goals.

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Source: 

INDIAN EXPRESS

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