During French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India, the two countries adopted a “defence industrial roadmap” and agreed to co-design, co-develop, and co-produce defence equipment.
Macron was on a two-day visit to India, during which he participated as the Chief Guest for the 75th Republic Day Parade of the country.
Defence Industrial Roadmap
Macron and Indian PM Narendra Modi “reiterated their commitment to further deepening the integration between the two countries’ respective defence industrial sectors” during their meeting. They also agreed to find opportunities to jointly produce defence equipment in order to fulfil the defence needs of not only the Indian armed forces but also of other friendly countries.
The leaders applauded the steps taken by France’s Safran to establish maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for leading-edge aviation propulsion (LEAP) engines in India and the intentions to include Rafale engines under this measure. Additionally, they welcomed the adoption of a “Defence Industrial Roadmap.”
The joint statement released after their meeting mentioned that, during the visit, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Safran announced a joint venture for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) engine and the Scorpene submarines built in India.
My dear friend @NarendraModi,
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 26, 2024
Indian people,
My warmest wishes on your Republic Day. Happy and proud to be with you.
Let’s celebrate! pic.twitter.com/e5kg1PEc0p
Maritime Surveillance, Defence Space Partnership
The two sides stressed that defence and security are the cornerstones of the India-France partnership in the Indo-Pacific. Building on the joint surveillance missions carried out from the French island territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022, they agreed to intensify similar interactions in the Southwest Indian Ocean.
An MoU was also signed between Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus to set up an assembly line for H125 helicopters in India.
In the space sector, an MoU was signed between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and Arianespace SAS of France. Furthermore, a Letter of Intent was signed between the Indian Defence Ministry and the French Ministry for Armed Forces in Defence Space Partnership.
India-France Year of Innovation
Declarations of intent were also signed in the health and public administration sectors. Both nations agreed to celebrate 2026 as the “India-France Year of Innovation.” They decided to set up a solar academy in Senegal under the STAR-C program of the International Solar Alliance launched by India and France in 2015.
Additionally, they announced that France has appointed Special Envoy for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) megaproject.
France to Welcome 30,000 Indian Students
During his visit, Macron said that France had set a target to welcome 30,000 Indian students to its universities by 2030. “It’s a very ambitious target, but I am determined to make it happen,” Macron said.
The two sides also announced the activation of a five-year Schengen visa for Indian students who pursue their Master’s degree from French tertiary institutions. This initiative was announced last year in August under its new education programme.
Under the India-France migration and mobility partnership agreement, both leaders announced the operationalisation of the Young Professional Scheme, which aims to facilitate professional exchanges of people between 18 and 35 years of age.
Visited Jantar Mantar in Jaipur with President @EmmanuelMacron. This UNESCO World Heritage Site stands as a testament to India's rich heritage in astronomy. It also symbolises the blend of ancient wisdom and modern science, a shared value that both India and France appreciate. pic.twitter.com/2d0Se6bg3h
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2024
The Visit
The invitation to be the Chief Guest for the Republic Day was extended to Macron after US President Joe Biden turned down the offer. A high-level 40-member delegation, which included French Ministers of Armed Forces, Culture, European and Foreign Affairs, and other senior officials and CEOs, accompanied Macron during the visit.
On arrival in Jaipur, Macron participated in a “shobha yatra” (public procession) with Modi and visited the Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar and the Hawa Mahal. After this, Macron left for Delhi, where he participated in the Republic Day celebrations.
Earlier, Modi had visited France to be the Guest of Honour at the French National Day on 14 July 2023. During the visit, the two countries unveiled the Horizon 2047 Roadmap for the India-France ties.