India-France annual strategic dialogue today

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 6

India and France will hold their annual strategic dialogue tomorrow. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will lead the Indian delegation, while the French delegation will be led by Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Adviser and G7-G20 Sherpa to the French President, a Ministry of External Affairs statement said.

Key focus areas of the talks will be Covid vaccines, cooperation within the Indo-Pacific area, nuclear, space maritime safety, environment, digital economy and defence cooperation. The last strategic dialogue was held in February last year in Paris.

With key interests in the Indian Ocean due to its overseas territories (Reunion Island and Mayotte) and 2.8 million square km of EEZ, France is emerging as a key Indian partner in the Indian Ocean. India recently signed a logistics sharing agreement with France that enables them to use each other’s military facilities.

French Navy is a constant presence in the Indian Ocean, supported by bases in Djibouti, Abu Dhabi, Reunion Island and Mayotte.

Bonne had last visited India in 2019, during which he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India and France have often demonstrated solidarity with each other. India and France have had long-standing and robust economic and strategic ties.

PM thanks German Chancellor Merkel

PM Narendra Modi held a videoconference with his German counterpart, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday. The PM appreciated Merkel’s long-standing role in providing stable and strong leadership at the European and global stage, and thanked her for guiding the growth of the India-Germany strategic partnership. The two discussed key issues of mutual importance, including the response to the Covid-19, bilateral ties, regional and global issues.