India and its oldest strategic partner in the West, France, have decided to take measures to strengthen their Indo-Pacific partnership
It was decided during foreign secretary Harsh Shringla’s last visit that France and India will take forward their shared approach on the Indo-Pacific partnership through several cooperation mechanisms, including between the foreign offices, ministries of defence, and military and civilian entities.
Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region now finds a prominent place in the Indo-French bilateral agenda as the two countries cooperate closely in the western and southern Indian Ocean.
France was the first European country to launch an Indo-Pacific strategy and India is a key pillar in that strategy. The French government is among a handful of governments that has appointed an ambassador for the Indo-Pacific region where Paris has assets, including territories.
Shringla, while referring to the growing Indo-Pacific cooperation at one of the leading French think tanks during his visit, said: “India and France are strong partners in the Indo-Pacific. We are united in our vision of the importance of maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. We remain committed to upholding the rules-based international order…”
Source: The Economic Times