India, France To Deepen Cooperation In Defence, Space And Nuclear Sectors: S Jaishankar

India and France have agreed to increase their bilateral cooperation in key areas, including defence, security, space, and civilian nuclear energy, news agency PTI reported. 

The announcement came following wide-ranging discussions between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in France's Marseille on Friday (13 June).

At a joint press conference, Jaishankar said, “Defence, security, space, civilian nuclear cooperation, I think we agreed to intensify all of these through very concrete measures and projects in the time to come.”

He noted that both sides engaged in detailed talks on a broad spectrum of issues, including counterterrorism, artificial intelligence, innovation, people-to-people ties, and education.

Jaishankar said the two sides also explored ways to deepen ties through education, research, business, and mobility.

He noted that they spent some time discussing how these areas could be used to add new dimensions and greater substance to the India-France relationship.

Jaishankar also expressed India’s “deep appreciation” to France for its strong condemnation of the recent cross-border terrorist attack in Pahalgam and thanked Paris for its “steadfast support for India’s right to defend itself against terrorism.”

Addressing global and regional developments, Jaishankar said he and Barrot discussed key issues related to the Indian subcontinent, Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific.

Reiterating India’s position, Jaishankar stressed that this is not a time for resolving differences through war. He emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy remain the preferred path, as no lasting solutions can come from the battlefield.

The ministers also reviewed collaboration under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and ongoing trilateral mechanisms with countries like the UAE and Australia.

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