What happened?
A French Senate delegation, led by Senator Catherine Dumas, visited India from May 18 to 23, 2025, to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. The delegation, from France’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and the Armed Forces, built on previous visits and followed up on a 2020 Senate report titled “India, a Strategic Partner”. They held bilateral talks with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri focusing on global and regional developments, defence cooperation, and the Indo-French strategic partnership. The group also engaged with Indian parliamentarians from the Standing Committees on Defence and External Affairs, and received a guided tour of India’s new Parliament building. At the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the French delegation met with Chairman Samir V. Kamat to discuss opportunities for joint development and technological cooperation under the India-France Defence Industrial Roadmap. The senators also visited Digantara, a leading Indian space-tech start-up, and the Thales Engineering Competence Centre in Bengaluru, highlighting Indo-French collaboration in aerospace and defence innovation. In Mumbai, the delegation toured the SUEZ water treatment facility and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, a key player in India’s naval sector involved in building Scorpene/Kalvari-class submarines under technology transfer from France.
Why it matters to India
This visit reinforced the strong and multifaceted partnership between India and France, emphasizing mutual cooperation in defence, technology, and sustainable development. The discussions on joint development and technological cooperation, particularly in the defence and aerospace sectors, are crucial for India’s strategic autonomy and its “Make in India” initiative. Both sides expressed optimism about deepening ties and exploring new avenues for collaboration, further solidifying the strategic relationship.