France has unveiled National Security Review” (NSR) which sets out national defense outlook till 2030. It makes reference to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war which impacts on EU’s security and calls for strong links to the Atlantic alliance under which “European security efforts will make the Atlantic alliance stronger”. The document notes that the country will maintain “capacity to lead military operations, including those of high intensity, alone or within a coalition." China is another major security concern and PLA’s military modernisation coupled with an assertive strategy is of concern to France “particularly with regard to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait” as well as in Africa.

A significant feature of the NSR is the emphasis on France role as an important balancing power in the Indo-Pacific region by building partnerships (Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan and Singapore). It also alludes to French commitment to “contributing to the stability of the Indo-Pacific zone and at ensuring freedom of action in “global common spaces” including the deep seabed, high seas, outer space and cyberspace.”

In the above context, India and France are important Indo-Pacific powers. Since the establishment of their strategic partnership in 1998, they have set up a sophisticated mechanism for institutionalized bilateral engagements based on respective national objectives and commonality of interests. These have spawned a number of bilateral and multilateral initiatives which cut across politico-diplomatic, economic, strategic, military, aerospace, civil nuclear energy and technology continuum.

At the tactical levels, the French and the Indian navies have successfully set up standard operating procedures for naval operations which have added value to better understanding of each other’s naval philosophy, chain of command, concept of operations, which are critical for combined or coordinated military tasks. The two navies are now primed to participate in naval coalitions and multi-nation operations that may be necessitated due to circumstances such as piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, the Indian Navy deployed its P-8I long range maritime patrol (LRMP) aircraft in Reunion Island for joint surveillance missions in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Reunion Island as part of coordinated operations with the French Navy which operates out of the military facility called FAZSOI (armées de la zone sud de l’océan Indien) in French language.

India and France are drawn to the Southern Ocean driven by their national interests. French territories in the Southern Ocean (French Southern and Antarctic Territories (TAAF) not including Scattered Islands and Adelia Land) generate 2,070 356 square kilometers of EEZ.  

Although India does not claim any territory, but it has an ongoing scientific research programme called ‘Indian Southern Ocean Research Program’ under the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), a nodal institution responsible for R&D related activities in the Arctic, Antarctic and the Southern Ocean.

The Southern Ocean is a difficult geography- cold and remote, very rough area to operate, unfrequented shipping route and if “anything does go wrong, help is a long way away.” It is important to recall the international efforts to locate the wreckage of Malaysian Airlines flight MH 370 in the Southern Ocean which have continued since 2014. However, the accident remains an ‘aviation mystery’. Unlike the above incident, the successfully rescue by the French fishing vessel Osiris of an Indian Navy officer, a participant in the Golden Globe Race, who got stranded in the south Indian Ocean merits accolades. The Indian Navy had deployed its P8I maritime patrol aircraft from Mauritius and had dispatched a frigate which was operating in the Southern Ocean at that time.

Close cooperation with France (through Reunion Island) is perhaps the best way for India to contribute to maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean. In this context, New Delhi’s admission to the IOC is an opportunity for maritime capacity building of Comoros and Madagascar (Least Developed Countries), and Mauritius and Seychelles (Middle Income Countries).

India joined as an Observer the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), an exclusive grouping of island states of the western Indian Ocean. This initiative by New Delhi is a substantive indicator of its commitment to support smaller island nations of the region through capacity building in the maritime domain. Perhaps this is one of the many reasons that was high on the minds of the IOC member states to accept India’s membership as an Observer. In 2019, IOC leaders of member states and India met at the ‘Choose La Reunion’ business meet to explore economic and development partnership.

Finally, India France relationship can shape the evolving Indo-Pacific security dynamics driven by competition between US and China. Furthermore, they are not immune to the adverse regional geopolitical and geostrategic contestations should these come to roost in the Indian Ocean and impact on peace and stability in the region. For that to they would need to exude collective confidence in managing relations with these dominant protagonists particularly China.

Dr Vijay Sakhuja is Consultant Kalinga International Foundation, New Delhi.