Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen defense cooperation and nuclear partnerships between their nations. During a lunch meeting following the G20 Summit, both leaders discussed a range of topics, including defense technologies, nuclear energy projects, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Modi and Macron emphasized the need for expeditious finalization of the Defense Industrial Road Map, underlining their commitment to enhancing defense cooperation. Their joint statement highlighted the intention to partner in the design, development, testing, and manufacture of advanced defense technologies and platforms. The collaboration aims to expand production in India, including for third countries in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
The leaders acknowledged significant progress in discussions concerning the Jaitapur nuclear plant project. They expressed their commitment to advancing nuclear cooperation and exploring co-development opportunities for small modular reactor (SMR) and advanced modular reactor (AMR) technologies. SMR reactors, characterized by their smaller size and modular construction, hold the potential to provide efficient and cost-effective nuclear energy solutions.
France reiterated its strong support for India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), emphasizing its unwavering commitment to India’s nuclear endeavors.
The talks also addressed multiple areas of cooperation, including defense, space, digital public infrastructure, critical technology, and climate change. Both countries underscored their commitment to the ‘Horizon 2047’ road map, designed to celebrate 50 years of their strategic partnership.
India’s partnership with France in the Indo-Pacific region featured prominently in the discussions. The Indo-Pacific Road Map, unveiled in July during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France, was reviewed, with both nations affirming their roles as solution providers in the Indo-Pacific. Their collaboration extends to initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
The Indo-French Campus for the Indo-Pacific model was discussed as a potential template for other institutional linkages, spanning areas such as digital technology, science, education, culture, health, and environmental cooperation.
The discussions also included plans for cooperation in Africa, encompassing infrastructure development, connectivity, energy, biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and industrial projects.
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