Global food crisis, Ukraine war underscore India-France talks PM, Macron discuss Indo-Pacific region

Rezaul H Laskar

NEW DELHI: India and France have called for an immediate end to hostilities in Ukraine to promote dialogue and diplomacy, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to step up coordination to tackle the global implications of the conflict.

The two leaders, during their meeting in Paris on Wednesday, condemned civilian deaths in Ukraine and underlined the need to respect the UN Charter, the international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Modi earlier joined his counterparts from five Nordic states during a summit in Copenhagen to emphasise for an immediate end to hostilities.

Modi travelled to France after the India-Nordic Summit and separate meetings with prime ministers of Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in the Danish capital. The Ukraine crisis has figured in all legs of Modi’s three-nation tour of Europe and the Indian side has stressed the need to find a negotiated settlement.

New Delhi and Paris have expressed serious concerns over the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, “unequivocally condemned civilian deaths”, and sought an “immediate cessation of hostilities to bring parties together to promote dialogue and diplomacy to find an immediate end to the suffering of the people”, said a joint statement issued after the meeting between Macron and Modi.

The two leaders discussed the regional and global implications of the Ukraine conflict and “agreed to intensify coordination on the issue”, the statement said.

France reiterated its “strong condemnation of the unlawful and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine by Russian forces”, it added.

Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters on Wednesday that the two leaders agreed close coordination and engagement is important so that “India and France can play a constructive role in the evolving situation”.

Modi outlined to Macron the Indian position, which calls for immediate cessation of hostilities and a resolution through diplomacy and dialogue, he said.

The two leaders exchanged views on the “cascading effect” of the situation in Ukraine, including global shortages of food and commodities, such as fertiliser, and how India and France can partner to address some of these global challenges.

“There is a very clear understanding of each other’s position and they did agree to stay in touch and coordinate very closely. So that as the situation evolves, they can both individually or together play a constructive role in this situation...so that all these challenduring ges...can be resolved,” Kwatra said.

Modi was among the first foreign leaders to meet Macron following the latter’s re-election.

In the context of the bilateral defence partnership, the two leaders discussed how the two countries can partner more strongly in co-designing, co-development and co-production of defence equipment in India, Kwatra said.

Following the construction of six Scorpène-class submarines in Mumbai with the transfer of technology from France and the delivery of 36 Rafale combat jets despite the pandemic, the two sides agreed to find “creative ways” for France’s deeper involvement in the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative, the statement said.

Besides agreeing to work on more secure and sovereign 5G and 6G telecom systems, India and France also reaffirmed the commitment to the strategic Jaitapur nuclear power project for access to affordable and low carbon energy and welcome the progress achieved in recent months.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a 90 minute oneon-one meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday evening at Elysée Palace, focusing on the consequences and solutions to the war in Ukraine rather than the respective positions of the two countries with the two leaders discussing ways to counter the deteriorating environment in the Indo-Pacific.

While PM Modi was having an open exchange of thoughts ranging from strategy to philosophy with a trusted ally, his External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar had a separate discussion with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, met separately with French Defence Minister Florence Parly.They then joined Modi and Macron for delegation level talks.

It is understood that Modi shared his thoughts about the global consequence of the Ukraine war and its impact on food security of poorer nations. He made it clear that it is not the position on war that matters but the ability to push for solutions to the impending global crisis with Russia refusing to call an end to the war. Both PM Modi and President Macron have spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to end violence and sue for peace.

PM Modi let it be known to President Macron that India was ready to provide food and grain to poorer countries bilaterally to address the gap in global markets on account of the war, but that it needs permission from the WTO. The two leaders agreed on the threat posed by the impending food crisis and that the World Food Programme and the UN would need support to feed the poor of the world.

The two leaders acknowledged the environment in the Indo-Pacific with President Macron asking PM Modi what should be done bilaterally to counter belligerence and expansionist tendencies in the region. Both leaders are on the same page on the Indo-Pacific with navies of both countries exercising frequently. The common threat, of course, is China.

The two leaders, with only interpreters in the room, also spoke of Afghanistan, Pakistan, terrorism, and the global security environment.

While the two leaders had an expansive discussion, PM Modi and President Macron’s key aides interacted with each other. It was quite evident from the meeting between Doval and Parly that France was more than ready to participate in the ‘Make in India’ project by jointly manufacturing critical and emerging defence technologies in India and then exporting to third countries without any export licence regime.

HT learns that Modi was satisfied with his short but significant visit to France with all issues to be followed up by President Macron’s visit to India later this year and in the soon to be held strategic dialogue with a NSA level task force handling the defence cooperation between the two very close allies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.