It’s time to take India-France cooperation to new heights

New Delhi – Indian Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar said, ‘It is easier to talk about a strategic partnership…we saw a French aircraft flying at the finale of Republic Day parade…it is a visible example of India-France strategic partnership.’ Minister Jaishankar expressed confidence that the India-France relations have matured and the time has come to take these relations to a new height.

Indian Minister of External Affairs spoke during the virtual meeting organised on the subject ‘The French Presidency: EU-India partnership in the Indo-Pacific’. French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian also participated in the discussion. While speaking about the India-France strategic partnership, Foreign Minister Jaishankar cited the example of the Rafale fighter jets. Rafale fighter jets were flying during the Indian Republic Day parade. Citing this, Jaishankar said that this became a visual example of the strategic cooperation between the two countries.

India and France are trusted partners in the defence, nuclear and space sectors. Foreign Minister Jaishankar expressed confidence that the time has come to take this cooperation between the two countries to a new height. Meanwhile, France has become the President of the European Union. France has indicated further strengthening the cooperation between the European Union and India using the office. Against the background of intense differences developing between the European Union and China, the stand adopted by France regarding India becomes noteworthy.

Some members of the European Union are supplying weapons and defence equipment to Pakistan. India has demanded that France should ban this cooperation received by Pakistan. France can stop this arms and defence equipment supply to Pakistan using the office of the European Union President. Therefore, this demand made by India has increased worries for Pakistan.