DNA Edit: Modi-Macron BonHomie

In stark contrast with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit, French President Emmanuel Macron got the famous “Modi hug” from the Prime Minister at the airport itself.

The reason perhaps had to do with business. Unlike Trudeau’s seven-day-long sojourn in the country which was seen by many as a “holiday,” the French President’s visit has been all business.

Agreements worth $16 billion were signed between the two leaders including a naval security pact that was seen by analysts as curbing China’s growing influence in the region. While the pacts which will allow the development of a nuclear plant project in Jaitapur — believed to be one of the world’s largest — and the allowing of docking of warships in each other’s ports is seen as welcome, there are some issues that remain.

The joint declaration does not make mention of the fact that France wants to sell 36 more Rafale jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF) something that Paris was pushing for in this visit but New Delhi has not committed to yet. 

Part of the reason the government may be wanting to go slow is that the Congress has alleged irregularities in the first Rafale deal claiming that it cost an additional Rs 12,000 crore of taxpayer’s money. These jets were ordered in 2016 in a government to government deal which cost an estimated Rs 58,000 crore.

These teething problems aside, France ’s growing ties with India come not a moment too soon. President Trump’s policy of “America First” the waning influence of Britain post-Brexit, Russia’s joint military exercises with Pakistan last year suggests that India may now need to look elsewhere for allies. It seems Paris is ready to come on board.