Big-ticket defence deals likely during PM Modi’s Paris visit

PM Modi and President Macron. to discuss strategic convergences, defence deals, civil nuclear issues, space, cyber security, counter terrorism, climate change, renewable energy, and the international solar alliance. PM Modi to attend Bastille Day military parade, meet French PM, President of Senate, President of National Assembly.

As the India-France strategic partnership hits the quarter-century mark, it hs been given “strong guidance” by the “common vision” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Wednesday, ahead of Mr. Modi’s two-day visit to France, starting July 13.

Mr. Modi’s schedule in Paris includes interactions with the French President and other leading figures in the French government and business world, with the high point being the Bastille Day military parade, where he will be the chief guest.

“India and France have a long standing strategic partnership which actually captures the series of strategic convergences that both countries have on a range of issues. This year marks the 25th anniversary of our strategic partnership. There are several pillars of our strategic partnership and each of these pillars would come up for stock taking under the bilateral talks that the two leaders would hold,” Mr. Kwatra said, laying out the broader strategic backdrop.

The PM’s visit to France is being interpreted as a step towards closer military cooperation between the two countries, as India is gearing up to acquire 26 new Rafale-M fighter jets that will fit into India’s maritime military plans. The Rafale-M proposal was cleared by the Defence Procurement Board in the run-up to the visit, and the Defence Acquisition Council — the highest decision-making body on procurement in the Defence Ministry — is expected to review it at a meeting on Thursday.

There are several other defence deals in the pipeline which could see movement during Mr. Modi’s visit, including a proposal to buy three more Scorpene-class conventional submarines for the Navy, and a plan to jointly develop fighter jet engines to power fifth-generation advanced medium combat aircraft, and the twin-engine deck-based fighter to operate from carriers.

The two delegations will discuss cooperation on civil nuclear issues, space, cyber security technology, counter terrorism, climate change, renewable energy, and the international solar alliance. “Reorientation of our security partnership in line with AtmanirbharBharat [Self-reliant India] objectives, supply chain integration between the industry and business segments of the two countries would all form part of discussions under the bilateral talks between the two leaders,” Mr. Kwatra said, describing economic ties between India and France as being in a state of “robust upswing”.

“As part of our participation in the Bastille Day celebrations, a large tri-services contingent from India will also participate in the Bastille Day parade, along with three Indian Air Force aircraft which would also take part in the fly past,” he added. Marching contingents of the three services and a military band of 242 personnel will take part in the parade. Each service contingent will include 68 personnel, while the military band has 38. Indigenous stealth destroyer INS Chennai arrived in France on Wednesday, coinciding with the French national day.