New Delhi: France has been the only country in the Western world that has not criticized or urged India to take the same stand as the US or Europe in the Russo-Ukraine war. According to Emmanuel Lenain, French ambassador to India, Paris believes it will work closely with New Delhi to “promote” its strategic autonomy and make India “more autonomous” in the production of military equipment. could.
In an exclusive interview to ThePrint, the French envoy said France does not believe in “lecturing” India and understands its stance as a “close participant” in the Russo-Ukraine war. Lenin says Paris will work with New Delhi to address some of the strategic “barriers” it faces today.
“Our countries have their own national status which is determined by our sovereign interest. We are not the kind of country that is going to lecture a close friend like India. We respect and we know that its stance on such an important issue has been determined through a process by excellent professionals and in view of the core interest of the country,” Ambassador Lenin told Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France. Referring to the meeting with President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month.
The ambassador said, “We want to move forward together and we want to do as positively as possible and there is a lot more to do and that was discussed in Paris… sanctions. So one of our goals in the long run is also to do whatever you can to reduce your barriers, to promote your strategic autonomy.”
He said, “We want to partner with India to promote your strategic autonomy to make India more autonomous in the production of equipment needed for our security, but this is a long-term effort but we are fully committed to it.” Committed.”
Lenin also emphasized that Prime Minister Modi and President Macron are among the few world leaders who have opened their channels of communication with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the war.
“Our priority is to end hostilities and alleviate the plight of the population. PM Modi and President Macron are the few leaders who can actually talk and were talking to both President Zelensky and President Putin,” he said. This has led to imbalances in food chains and the risk of malnutrition and starvation.
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‘Achievements in Rafale, Scorpene Bilateral Relations’
The Indian Air Force has 35 of the 36 Rafale fighter jets, while the last one is being re-engineered, Lenin believes in more co-development and co-production and an export hub to India. It’s time to make.
“Rafale has been an excellent program despite Covid, we delivered all the 36 aircraft. The last one is being re-engineered as it was initially used for training, but it is timely. French industries to serve the Indian Air Force are working additional shifts, day, night and weekend, to cope with the COVID lockdown. But we are completely on time and the user – Indian Air Force – seems completely satisfied,” he said.
in February this year With the arrival of three Rafale jets, India completed the procurement of 35 of the 36 fighter jets procured on the basis of a contract signed in September 2016 in France.
Whereas France has brought all 36 fighter planes to India. Indian Air Force It will decide when to send the jets to India based on its training schedule and specifications.
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More technology transfer on the anvil?
The French ambassador said that no other country has invested so heavily in India’s defense market as France and has also taken on offset obligations.
Offset is an obligation that an international defense player needs to take on to support India’s defense industry as he is buying items under an expensive contract.
“The next step is to fit into your policy of ‘Self-reliant India’ and do more co-development and more technology transfer, which means for the program for the future, for aircraft engines and any kind of system or equipment together. Working so you can grow in India, you can produce in India for your army, but maybe also to export. And why are we the best partner to do this?… want to be a partner,” said Lenin.
On the Scorpene submarine deal, the French ambassador said that the joint production of all six submarines under Project-75 under complete transfer of technology between French Naval Group and Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) is a “considerable achievement” for both countries. The sixth and final submarine – Vagshir – was launched last month.
The first of the P-75 submarines was inducted into the Navy in December 2017 and currently four submarines of the project are in commission in the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy said in a statement last month that the sixth submarine would now start operations for various equipment and their port tests.
On the Scorpene submarine deal, the French ambassador said the joint production of all six submarines, under complete transfer of technology, is a “considerable achievement” for both countries.
“Scorpene is a good example of the work we’ve done together. It’s a great program and the number six submarine has been put at sea. It’s a great collaboration between the Naval Group and Mazagon Dock Ltd. and I think That’s quite an achievement.”
Earlier this month, on the eve of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France, the French group naval group The Indian Navy’s next major submarine project, known as Project-75(I), withdrew, citing technical issues particularly related to the Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system.
“It is up to India to determine its requirements for the next steps and decide what kind of submarines it wants, but obviously the naval group and all the French industry that is involved in the submarine program are ready and in this.” Willing to be a partner. Next steps,” he said.
“There have been some discussions, for the P-75(I) to issue the RFP (Request for Proposal), some specific things about the limited portion in the equipment, about the AIP, some requirements for most companies. are complicated and have taken some more thought and discussion, not just for French companies but for any company,” the envoy highlighted.
But he added that the Naval Group will continue to invest in India and explore more programmes.
“When India makes its decisions and which way to go, obviously Naval Group is there and willing to be an investor in India, they will continue to invest in India because they believe There is a lot that they can bring to India. Not only in terms of ‘Make in India’ but also in terms of autonomy and co-development.”
‘Ocus was a breach of trust’
Despite the recent showdown between France and Australia over the Australia-UK-US trilateral military partnership, popularly known as AUKUS, France said it was committed to the Indo-Pacific strategic conduct with India at its “origin”. Deeply committed.
“France has been the oldest Indo-Pacific driving force with India… AUKUS, obviously, was a huge disappointment. It was a breach of trust but does it change our commitment? Not at all. The geography doesn’t change, The French envoy referred to the fact that the region is home to more than 2 million French people, with thousands of troops stationed.
“We just think that the challenge posed by a certain country in this area is manifold and we need to be comprehensive in tackling this issue.”
However, Lenin said the India-Australia-France trilateral partnership, which was announced in 2021, will not take off.
“With regard to Australia, obviously now given the level of trust we are in, we cannot proceed with the tripartite cooperation that we had envisaged. We will see, in future, it can come back,” he said. He said that instead of Australia in this trilateral partnership, the UAE could be the new partner.
France was the first member of the European Union to implement its Indo-Pacific policy, even as China’s belligerence in the region began to grow. France has been presiding over the European Union since January this year and it will end in June.
(Edit: Manoj Ramachandran)
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