Doval meets French counterpart, discusses Afghanistan, Indo-Pacific

A statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said, “During the Strategic Dialogue and the meetings, India and France reiterated their commitment to take forward their strategic partnership to ensure peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific based on common beliefs in rules-based international order and strategic autonomy.”

The MEA said that the two sides discussed the global security environment, expanding the scope of defence cooperation to include co-development of futuristic technologies in line with India’s priorities of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

“The agenda included discussions on the situation in Afghanistan, Africa, South East Asia, Eurasia; Third Country Cooperation; cooperation in the lndo-Pacific, nuclear energy, space and cyber domains. Both sides also agreed to strengthen bilateral defence and security cooperation including in the South West Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific and pursuit of new initiatives in critical and emerging technologies,” it said.

The MEA also said that both sides reiterated that in view of the emerging uncertainties and volatile global security environment, there was a need for closer cooperation between India and France, including in the UNSC and other multilateral forums.

The French Embassy in Delhi said they discussed aspects of the Indo-French strategic partnership which includes defence and security cooperation, major international and regional issues, including the war in Ukraine, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, counter-terrorism cooperation, cyber-security, space and civil nuclear energy.

Doval and Bonne, who is also the G7 and G20 Sherpa from the French government, agreed to raise the level of ambition of bilateral cooperation with the goal of accelerating efforts towards strategic autonomy, it said.

“Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor and G7/G20 Sherpa to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, paid a visit to India on 5 January for the 36th session of the Indo-French Strategic Dialogue,” it said in a statement. It said that the first bilateral visit of the year aimed to pave the way for an ambitious expansion of the Indo-French strategic partnership as it marks its 25th anniversary this year.

Bonne also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant.

“Glad to meet Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of France. Useful exchange of views on current issues of mutual interest,” Jaishankar tweeted after their meeting.