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Paris
India and France said on Friday that they believe in a free, open, inclusive, secure and peaceful Indo-Pacific region. Both countries noted that they seek to safeguard economic and security interests and build a balanced and stable order in the region. Both countries have released the India-France Indo-Pacific Roadmap. The roadmap states that India and France are strategically located resident powers and key partners with significant stakes in the Indo-Pacific.
“The India-France partnership in the Indian Ocean has become an important focus of our bilateral relations. In 2018, India and France agreed on a ‘Joint Strategic Vision for India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region’. Now we are ready to ” “Expand our joint efforts in the Pacific region,” the statement said. “Our two countries believe in a free, open, inclusive, secure and peaceful Indo-Pacific region. Our cooperation serves our own economic and security interests.” seeks to secure; ensure equal and open access to the global commons; build partnerships of prosperity and stability in the region; advance the rule of international law, and work with others in the region and beyond While doing so, build a balanced and stable order in the region with respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to the statement, PM Modi’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and French President Emmanuel Macron’s vision of security and cooperation outlined in the Indo-Pacific Strategy are “largely aligned”. It further said that cooperation between India and France is “wide-ranging” and includes defence, security, economic, connectivity, infrastructure, stability and human-centred development. The statement said, “Our bilateral cooperation advances our mutual security and supports peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Our cooperation extends from the ocean floor to space. We look forward to deepening our exchanges.” Will continue, collaborate on situational and domain awareness, intensify maritime cooperation.” across the region as we conduct contacts with partner countries in the South West Indian Ocean region.”
According to the statement, India and France will increase naval visits and develop defence industrial capabilities in India and jointly support the needs of other countries. Both countries announced that they would continue to develop comprehensive cooperation in coordination with the French overseas territories of La Réunion, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, and other countries in the region and beyond. The two countries will continue to work together to enhance development cooperation in other regions, countries in Africa, the Indian Ocean region, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Both countries announced that they would strengthen multilateral arrangements with Australia and the UAE and create new arrangements in the region.
“We will strengthen our multilateral arrangements with Australia and the UAE and create new arrangements in the region. We will strengthen our cooperation in regional fora such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, the Indian Ocean Commission, and the Djibouti Code of Conduct. ADMM+ and ARF,” the statement said. India and France announced that they will coordinate maritime security through IFC-IOR in India, EMASoH in UAE and Atalanta, RCOC in Seychelles, RMIFC in Madagascar and ReCAAP in Singapore. France also supports India’s desire to join the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
“We believe that the Indo-French partnership will be an important pillar of the interconnected and interlinking order in the Indo-Pacific region and will be indispensable to the peaceful and prosperous future of the Indo-Pacific region,” the statement said. The two countries will work together to advance the objectives of the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative, which aims to address common challenges in the region through collaborative actions under its seven pillars. “Under the leadership of France on the marine resources pillar, we will work together to implement practical projects in sync with and under various bilateral, regional and global initiatives by both sides, to create an ecosystem for the sustainable development of marine resources will work to counter activities such as IUU fishing,” the statement said. Both countries launched the International Solar Alliance and are committed to deploying renewable energy in the region. France and India are also proposing that start-ups in the region benefit.
