In a significant move to bolster maritime security, India and France have agreed to jointly assess and address threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The agreement was reached during the seventh India-France Maritime Cooperation Dialogue, held in New Delhi on January 14. The dialogue, co-chaired by Pavan Kapoor, India’s Deputy National Security Advisor, and Alice Rufo, Director General for International Relations and Strategy, French Ministry for the Armed Forces, outlined a shared vision for maritime security and sustainability.
The partnership will target pressing maritime challenges like Piracy, Maritime terrorism, Smuggling, Illegal fishing, Cybersecurity risks, Marine pollution. Both nations stressed the importance of upholding international law, supporting multilateralism through regional organizations, and ensuring freedom of navigation while respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Building on their 2018 Joint Strategic Vision for India-France Cooperation in the IOR, the dialogue aimed to reinforce collaboration for secure and open sea lanes. France welcomed India’s active participation in the Combined Maritime Forces and expressed optimism about India taking future leadership roles in the Combined Task Forces.
To enhance operational efficiency, the nations agreed to improve information-sharing mechanisms, including cooperation through the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram and regional centres in Seychelles and Madagascar.
India and France reaffirmed their dedication to protecting marine biodiversity and resources in the IOR. The partnership extends to global and regional initiatives, including:
•Collaboration under the framework of the United Nations Ocean Conference.
•Efforts to advance biodiversity and blue economy initiatives within the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
The dialogue underscored the mutual determination of India and France to ensure a secure, stable, and sustainable Indian Ocean Region. Their commitment to maritime security and environmental conservation highlights a deepened strategic partnership aimed at fostering regional peace and prosperity.
The cooperation sets a strong example of international collaboration to address shared challenges in one of the world’s most critical maritime zones.
