Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed enhancing cooperation over the Indo-Pacific region, amid the formation of an Australia, UK and US (AUKUS) trilateral alliance which leaves Paris in the cold.
A statement from Macron's office said that along with the situation in the strategic Indo-Pacific region, the two leaders also discussed the Afghan crisis.
The two regions have become global hotspots owing to numerous emerging challenges.
In the Indo-Pacific, China's rise has posed a threat to its neighbours as it has launched military attacks on India, threatened Taiwan with an invasion, taken over islands in the South China Sea and violated the maritime integrity of several countries in South-East Asia.
Afghanistan, which was on the boil after former US president Donald Trump announced his decision to pull-out forces from the war-torn region in February 2020, has shocked the world with the Taliban militants taking over Afghan capital Kabul in a lightning offensive. The rest of the world fears a rise in global terrorism with the militants running the show from Afghanistan.
Indo-French talks assume importance as France is in the middle of an escalating row with Australia and the US—both long-time allies—over the cancellation of a $40 billion submarine deal by Australia. Canberra instead signed a deal for acquiring nuclear-powered submarines from the US as part of a the AUKUS security alliance.
A furious France recalled its ambassadors from the US and Australia. In his initial comments, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that the deal is a stab in the back.
Other European countries have supported France and heavily condemned the US in the raging submarine debate that has taken ethical tones.
Australian ministers have defended their actions by saying that the French deal was not in Australian interests due to delays and the submarines were not technologically advanced.
Ironically, the Indian and French talks today are about balancing powers in the Indo-Pacific region while the AUKUS pact too is about containing China in the same region. China has condemned the AUKUS saying it will ignite an arms race. It has also threatened Australia over the proposed acquisition of nuclear-powered subs from the US.
Analysts say that with France isolated, and the Atlantic Alliance seemingly cracking up, there could be a natural convergence between New Delhi and Paris to work together with greater vigour in the Indo-Pacific. The formation of AUKUS could also provide a fresh opening for India to bond with the European Union, which has strongly backed France after the trilateral security alliance to counter China was formed.
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