International developments will not affect Indo-French cooperation: Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

New Delhi: – Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar underlined the importance of the Indo-French cooperation, saying ‘Cooperation between India and France cannot be influenced by the current developments at the international level. This has not affected the cooperation between the two countries. France is looking up to India as a trusted ally even in the Indo-Pacific sector.’ At the same time, Jaishankar said that India and France are making efforts on the diplomatic level to resolve the Russia-Ukraine issue.

Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expressed confidence that the international developments will not affect the bilateral cooperation between India and France while virtually addressing a function organised by a French think tank. Jaishankar pointed out that the agreement between India and France for Rafale fighter jets is nearing completion, is a matter of strengthening the cooperation between the two countries. At the same time, Jaishankar pointed out that the policies of India and France regarding the Indo-Pacific sector are the same. Indian and French policy is that no one should fall prey to hegemonic activities of any country and the region should be a place of conflicts between superpowers. The Indian External Affairs Minister expressed confidence that this will make an excellent alternative available to the countries from the region.

China is carrying out hegemonic activities in the Indo-Pacific region and the sovereignty of the countries in the area is under threat. The United States is trying to trick the nations into believing that if they have to save themselves from China, there is no other alternative to joining hands with the United States. Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar delivered the message that in this scenario, India and France have established a cooperation to present an option to the countries from the Indo-pacific region to protect their sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar claimed, while speaking on the Ukraine issue, that the roots of the Ukraine issue are in the Soviet Russia times.

Saying that the Ukraine issue is linked to NATO expansion and the relations among the European countries, Jaishankar said that India and France are making positive efforts to resolve the issue.

India and France are trying to resolve the Ukraine issue within the framework of the UN Security Council. Jaishankar pointed out that if the tension has to be defused in the region, both parties must control their aggression.

The issue cannot be resolved by maintaining an aggressive stand. Jaishankar reiterated the Indian stand that there cannot be an option other than diplomatic negotiations to fix this problem.

While addressing the French think tank, Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar criticised the cold war mentality. France, too disapproves of the stand taken by the Biden administration regarding Russia. France believes that the Ukraine issue can be resolved with diplomatic negotiations with Russia. Therefore, the Indian and French stand on the Ukraine issue seems similar.