SOUTH ASIA : FRANCE MOVES
STRATEGICALLY TOWARDS INDIA
by Dr. Subhash Kapila
South Asia figured as a low priority area in French foreign policy formulations in the
last fifty years. This was in common with the policy attitudes of the rest of the
Western world. French interest was focussed in terms of arms supplies contracts to
both India and Pakistan. In the economic field, other than telecommunications and
electronics, French firms did not exhibit much interest or find the investment climate in
India attractive.
As opposed to South Asia, France did focus
politically, strategically and economically in the contiguous regions of the Middle East
and South East Asia. However, the trend in the last two years indicates a marked
shift in emphasis in French policies in South Asia.
But first a glance at the pattern that existed
hitherto fore that is the French interest in terms of arms supplies to South Asia.
South Asia
– French connection in terms of arms supplies
France faced stiff competition in terms of arms
supplies to South Asia. India as the major military power relied heavily on Soviet/Russian
arms supplies both due to political and economic reasons. The other contending
military power, i.e. Pakistan till about 1965 relied heavily on United States military
largesse and thereafter Chinese military munificence including nuclear weaponisation and
missiles.
The pattern of French major arms and equipment
supplies to South Asia in the context of the above was as indicated below:
India
AMX Light tanks
Anti-tank guided missiles
Combat Aircraft (MIRAGE 2000)
Alfa Jet Trainer Aircraft (France is advancing the sale)
Pakistan
Anti tank guided
missiles
Combat aircraft
(MIRAGE III and MIRAGE 2000)
Exocet missiles
Submarines
Mine hunters for
Pak Navy
Maritime
Surveillance Aircraft
In terms of volume of French arms supplies in
recent years, the balance tilted towards Pakistan and specifically the Pak Navy in terms
of capital equipment supply. However, to the credit of France it must be said that in the
mid 1960’s when arms embargo was applied following the 1965 Indo-Pak War, France did
supply critical spare parts for French combat equipment in the Indian Armed Forces.
The growing
French political and strategic interest in India – The emerging pattern
In the past lack of focus or interest of France
in South Asia and in India as the predominant actor may have been conditioned by Western
attitudes of mistrust of the lofty moral posturing in Nehruvian foreign policies and the
Indian selective non-alignment policies. Also the lack of pragmatic foreign policies
during the Nehru years may have been a contributory reason when the then Indian Prime
Minister was a blind supporter of all Chinese policies. France at that time was combating
the Chinese supported and inspired communist take over of the French colonies in
Indo-China i.e. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. This must be viewed in the context of the Cold
War era political fixations. Yet again to the credit of France, it gave up its colonial
possessions in India all about the same time voluntarily.
From 1998, France has evinced a growing political
and strategic interest in India as the following events would indicate and quoted by the
French Foreign Minister at the concluding session of the Seminar on "India and France
in a Multipolar World" on February 17, 2000.1
- January 1998 - State visit of
French President to India.
- January 1999 - Visit of Indian Defence Minister
George Fernandes to
France.
- May 1999 - Visit of Indian Foreign
Minister Jaswant Singh to France.
- Sept 1999 - Visit of
Indian Prime Minister A. B.Vajpayee to France.
- Feb 2000 - Visit
of French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine to Indian.
- April 2000 - Visit of French
Defence Chief of Staff General Jean Pierre
Kelch
to India.
- April 2000 - State visit by
Indian President to France.
- May 2000 - Visit of French Foreign
Minister Alain Richard to India.
- Visit by Indian National Security Adviser to
France.
In addition in May 2000, joint exercises between
the French and Indian Navies took place in the Arabian Sea.
The emerging pattern indicates a significant expansion of
political and strategic interest between France and India.
French Foreign Minister – salient views
Mr. Hubert Vedrine the French Foreign Minister
expressed the following views:2
* The uniploar
configuration which has been in existence after the end of the Cold War needs to be
changed into a multi polar configuration. France considers USA as a durable friend and
considers unipolarity not even in USA’s interest.
* A multipolar word would consist
of other poles besides USA – Europe, Russia, China and India, possibly Brazil.
* Multipolarity is a geo-political line of thought and would reinforce stability
and cooperation, globally
* Multipolarity would necessarily have to be
cooperative amongst the poles and not confrontationist.
* France has embarked on an advance dialogue with
the emerging poles – an ongoing and wide ranging dialogue with the United States,
their friend and ally but with which France is not aligned; development of relations with
a modernising Russia to establish a long term Euro-Russian partnership; a global
partnership with China; a far reaching strategic dialogue with India, a deepening of
dialogue with Japan; deepening of the dialogue with Brazil, South Africa and other States.
* The UN Security Council needs to be
restructured and India should be made a Permanent Member.
* While India has emerged as a de-facto nuclear
power, it has to show compliance with the non-proliferation regime.
* "Furthermore, in this part of the world;
in the vastness of Asia, where many things are in a state of flux, there are many tensions
and uncertainties that remain, it is important that large States contribute to
stability".
* "It was a historical abnormality that
there were no strong relations between India and France" and "We are catching up
with the times. The dialogue we have established between our two countries over the last
two years will be very valuable both at the bilateral and global levels".
An analysis of the above views makes the
following conclusions emerge:
- France has given emphasis to build purposeful
relations with India in the last two years.
- France recognises that India will emerge as an
important regional and global player or ‘pole’ as the French would like to term
it in the multi-polar sense.
- France supports India’s candidature for
permanent membership of the Security Council.
- Implicit in the views of the French Foreign
Minister are the considerations that in South Asia, France recognises India’s
pre-eminence and its role for stability and promotion of democracy.
French Defence
Minister- views
During his visit to India in May 2000, the French
Defence Minister articulated views on Franco-Indian Cooperation at various fora. Some
points of interest are:
* France is keen "to forge an alliance at
difference levels of military-industrial cooperation and to share technology and
expertise" with India.
* France is particularly interested in defence R
& D Projects with India.
* India-France defence ties today are not limited
to weapon sales only. It extends to a strategic dialogue incorporating comprehensive
security issues.3
Significantly and which is notable was the French
Defence Ministers views on French arms sales to Pakistan, and which indicates a shift;
* Paris was not inclined to sell military
aircraft to Pakistan.
* "The current Government in France has
taken a very careful and conscious decision not to supply military hardware to Pakistan or
propose joint ventures with her. However, the military contracts signed during the
previous government will stay in place".4
An analysis of the above would indicate that:
- France wishes to enlarge defence cooperation
with India.
- France-India defence cooperation would be
enlarged to strategic dialogue on comprehensive security issue.
- France wants to be co-opted in India’s
defence production projects.
- In South Asia, France has made a strategic
choice to be with India.
French Defence
Chief of Staff’s visit – statements
French Defence Chief of Staff, General Jean
Pierre Kelch made the following statements:
* India and France have agreed to hold regular
institutional defence dialogues for evolution of common security perspectives and military
doctrines.
* India and France have agreed to explore joint
participation in international crisis management.5
Franco –
Indian political & strategic cooperation – The imperatives
The French Foreign Minister Mr. Hubert Vedrine
made an important point, in terms of time frame in which the shift of policy emphasis in
South Asia has taken place. He placed the shift in the period 1998 – 2000. An
analysis of India – related events would indicate the following:
- India’s nuclear weaponisation i.e.
Pokharan II.
- India’s draft Nuclear Doctrine, which in
essence was a declaratory policy.
- India’s response to Pakistan’s
mis-adventure in Kargil.
- Political changes in the complexion of the
Govt. in power in New Delhi where after 50 years of independence India displayed the first
signs of strategic assertiveness and a willingness to acquire national power and military
power and not be apologetic about it.
- India’s economic liberalisation and its
willingness for integration into the global economy.
- Above all, the readiness to shed the
ambiguities of the non-alignment era and willingness to enter into strategic dialogues
with those so interested with India.
In brief, France has noticed early in 1998
India’s potential for being both a regional and global power and this recognition
prompted the unfolding of its imperatives for building up a comprehensive political and
strategic relationship with India.
India cannot be smug about the growing
recognition it has been getting, especially strategic. India too has imperatives, which
should impel it to reciprocate the French interest. These are:
- France, along with Germany is a key player in
the formulation of European Union’s policies and strategies.
- Comprehensive strategic cooperation with France
would ensure that India’s points of views are correctly appreciated and understood in
Europe.
- France is the leader of the Franco-phile world
extending from France, across Africa and upto Vietnam.
- Convergence of French and Indian strategic
perceptions regarding the Indian Ocean.
- French armament industry, especially aircraft
and naval ships is well advanced. Transfer of technologies could be an attractive avenue
for India’s DRDO.
- French expertise in nuclear power generation
plants particularly in light water reactors is appreciable. Scope exists for cooperation.
- French expertise in nuclear deterrence with
limited nuclear weapon, nuclear weapons control mechanisms and integrated national
security management could be of use to India.
France –
India: Potential area for defence industrial cooperation
France has state of the art defence production
capabilities. Indian defence upgradation plans would call for sizeable acquisition of
military hardware in the next 25 years. As per foreign estimates this could incorporate:
Combat aircraft - 300
Main Battle Tanks - 1000
Warships - 40
Submarine - 15
Combat Helicopters - 500
Artillery S. P. Guns - 2000 6
France would decidedly be interested to
participate in such projects by direct sales, technology transfers or joint production. It
could also make India a production base for sales in Asia – Pacific.
The immediate defence industrial cooperation
could be in:
Avionics for Indian Air Force
Surveillance systems for all three services
Licensed production of radars
Naval weaponry 7
Conclusion -
France has undertaken a shift in policy emphasis
in South Asia, lately. From a limited interest of carving a niche in the arms sales market
of South Asia, namely with India and Pakistan, it has made a conscious decision to build a
comprehensive political and strategic cooperative relationship with India.
French strategic interest in India has been
kindled from 1998 when the new government in power initiated events, strategically
assertive in nature, in marked contrast to ambiguities and moral posturing of earlier
eras. It was easier for France to read India’s intentions and aspirations and assess
its potential.
France now finds convergence of strategic
interests with India in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. Both countries can build
on this. Franco – Indian defence cooperation would be mutually beneficial.
France, right from De Gaulle’s days, has
demonstrated an independence of thought and decision making both in politics and strategic
affairs while being an important player in the Western world. Franco – Indian
strategic cooperation would thus be devoid of pressures from other quarters.8
In the overall analysis what emerges is that
France like other countries is recognising the power potential of India. India not only
offers incentives of an arms market, defence R & D and defence production but more
importantly it offers the potential of a regional stabiliser, a force for political
stability and democratic norms. It is this which has prompted France to declare its
strategic choices in South Asia clearly i.e. it is India that counts. Further that it will
not strategically destabilise the South Asian security environment by arms sales to
Pakistan. India should welcome such developments as they arise not from a recognition of
India’s erstwhile non-alignment but the strategically assertive policies followed
since 1998 and Indian trends now not to shy away from strategic relationships.
30.6.2000
Post Script
A three day meeting of the Indo-French High Committee on Defence
Cooperation was held at Paris in the first week of July, 2000.
India was represented by a high level delegation comprising :
Mr. T.R. Prasad, Defence Secretary
Lt.Gen.Chandrasekhar, Vice Chief of Army Staff
Air Marshal P.S.Brar Vice Chief of Air Staff
Vice Admiral P J Jacob, Naval HQs
The French side was headed by Mr. Jean Bernand Ouvrieu, Special
Emissary of French Defence Minister, Alain Richard and included equally senior uniform and
other officials.
Besides a review of the global strategic environment, reports
indicate the following defence deals were discussed:
* Purchase of 10 Mirage 2000-H fighters for Indian Air
Force.
* Possibility of joint production of Mirage 2000-5 fighter
plane in India as per earlier offer made by French Defence Minister during his visit to
India in May 2001.
* Avionics for Indian Air Force for its Mirage fighter
aircraft and also for the Russian Sukhoi 30 MK II.
* Purchase of SM 39 submarine launched Anti-ship missiles
for Indian Navy.
France offered the following defence equipment for sale to India.
GIAT self propelled artillery guns
Scorpene class submarines
Aircraft carrier
ALPHA Jet trainer for the Indian Air Force (Advanced Jet Trainer)
France and India also explored the plans for proposed joint
exercises and joint production of weapon systems. 54 major armament systems including
attack submarines have been identified for joint production.
It would thus appear that France-India strategic cooperation and
defence deals would now gain more momentum when contrasted with British measures of
opening up armament sales to Pakistan contrary to its earlier declaration and additionally
holding up Indian Naval assets sent for refurbishing to UK under US pressure.
Notes:
1) Speech Delivered by Mr. Hubert
Vedrine, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of France at the concluding session
of the Seminar on India and France in a Multipolar World on February 17, 2000. Address
reproduced in Strategic Digest Volume XXX Numer 3 March 2000, Institute for Defence
Studies and Analysis, New Delhi PP 275 – 278.
2) Ibid, Also see C Raja Mohan
"We Believe in a Multipolar World – Interview of the French Foreign Minister,
THE HINDU February 15, 2000.
3) See DEFENSE NEWS June 5, 2000 P
4.
4) Ibid
5) See ASIA DEFENSE JOURNAL, May 2000 P 50.
6) See reference at Note 3 above.
7) Ibid
8) French Ministry of Defence
Information and communications, Director Jean Francois Bureau has in an article entitled
"French Interests in the Asia Pacific Region" published in Asia Defence Journal,
June 2000 stressed that France can play an important role in helping. Asian nations to
achieve strategic autonomy and self reliances in defence production see P 67.
