Amid the growing adversities in the Indo-Pacific region and the recent controversy over the AUKUS deal, France on Thursday said that Defence Minister Florence Parly's visit to India highlights New Delhi's pivotal role in the Indo-Pacific. France also urged friendly powers to join hands and reject all forms of "hegemony" in the region. During her visit, Florence Parly will hold extensive talks with her counterpart Rajnath Singh, according to the French embassy in New Delhi. She will also call on NSA Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Last year in September, Parley had visited India to attend the ceremony for inducting the first batch of five Rafale jets into the Indian Air Force. The French embassy has also said that 33 Rafale jets have been delivered to India so far, adding "all perfectly on schedule despite the disruptions of the pandemic". This will be Parly's fourth visit to India since 2017.
Key Points:
1. French Defence Minister Florence Parly is visiting India on Friday to strengthen Indo-French strategic and defence ties.
2. "The minister will reiterate France's commitment to strengthening India's defence industrial base and its willingness to offer the best of its technology with a high 'Make In India' component," the embassy said.
3. The French defence minister will meet Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss multiple issues including maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, industrial partnership and ways to deal with the threat of terrorism, the French Embassy told news agency PTI.
4. "This visit highlights France's engagement in the Indo-Pacific and the centrality of India in the French strategy. It comes in the wake of several major bilateral air, navy, and army exercises this year," the embassy added.
5. Florence Parly's meet with NSA Ajit Doval will majorly be focused on matters related to regional security.
6. The French embassy also said that Minister Parly will stress France and India's joint commitment to answering the challenges of the Indo-Pacific and they will be bringing together friendly powers to defend the rule of law, offering a positive agenda to the countries of the region, and rejecting all forms of hegemony.
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7. Parley's visit to India came amid the rising concerns over China's increasing military dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.
8. "Upon taking the presidency of the Council of the European Union on January 1, 2022, France will make the Indo-Pacific and India a key priority," it said. The wide-ranging discussions that will be held by Parley will largely focus on operational defence cooperation, specifically maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
