In Modi era, France has replaced Russia as India’s new best friend - says Indian Paper
France’s stock is currently high in Delhi after it supported India’s stand on Kashmir at the UNSC.
rime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting France for his third state visit and fourth trip. Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to discuss a gamut of issues ranging from trade and economics to energy security, counter-terrorism, defence and security cooperation and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific.
France seems to have replaced Russia as India’s trustworthy friend and partner in the Western world.
France’s stock is currently high in Delhi after it supported India’s stand on Kashmir at the UNSC closed-door meeting called by China. The French have also previously backed the UNSC resolution on global terrorist Masood Azhar and pushed for stronger FATF sanctions on Pakistan.
Also read: France looks to include India and several other countries as permanent UNSC members
Filling in Russia’s vacuum
During the Cold War, the erstwhile Soviet Union was India’s veto-providing friend in the UN Security Council. It was the country who understood India’s national security interests, especially with respect to Pakistan and Kashmir. Soviet Union also provided India with economic assistance and defence equipment.
India and France have built a deep economic, security and diplomatic relationship over the last few decades that has spanned the Cold War era and strengthened in the last decade or two. France has become the new Russia – the new best friend.
For a country that values symbolism as much as India does, the importance of France is noticeable in that it is the only country whose presidents have been chief guests at India’s Republic Day Parade for a record five times (1976, 1980, 1998, 2008 and 2016). Both old ally Russia/Soviet Union and close neighbour Bhutan come second, and only one US President has ever been a Republic Day guest – Barack Obama, in 2015.
As a post-colonial country, India’s relationship with former colonial power, The United Kingdom, is conflicted. While there is a strong diaspora linkage as well as an economic and security relationship, New Delhi is often sceptical about London understanding Indian concerns especially when it comes to issues like terrorism, Pakistan and Kashmir.
So, throughout the Cold War years, India needed an ally – with veto power- on the Security Council – and that was Soviet Union. Today, Russia has closer relations with China and is not as cognisant of India’s interests especially when it comes to Pakistan, Afghanistan and terrorism. France appears to have moved into the Russian vacuum.
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