NSA Ajit Doval to have strategic dialogue with Emmanuel Bonne of France
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New Delhi, Jan 7: India and France will hold their annual Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi, on Jan 7. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will lead the Indian delegation while the French delegation will be led by Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to the French President. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the two sides will hold discussions on wide-ranging bilateral and global issues. Bonne will also call on other Indian dignitaries. The last edition of the Strategic Dialogue was held in Feb 2020 in Paris.
Soon after France had welcomed India’s fresh stint at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a period of two years, the announcement of the strategic dialogue between the two nations was made. French ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain had said on Jan 1 that France was eager to work side by side to uphold international law, fight terror and defend multilateralism. According to his tweet, “France welcomes India as it joins UNSC for next 2 yrs. We are eager to work side by side to uphold international law, fight terrorism & defend multilateralism.”
The annual strategic dialogue is expected to review the progress made over a 10,000-megawatt nuclear power plant to be set up in Maharashtra and the construction of six diesel-electric submarines under the Indian Navy’s P-75I programme. The two will also discuss improving maritime security and developments in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the context of China’s aggressive moves along the LAC.
In the advancements that are to take place after the strategic dialogue, an important one is of the IAF. India is expected to sign a $2.5-billion contract this year for 56 medium-transport aircraft under the Make in India initiative. India is also looking at the acquisition of six Airbus 330 multi-role transport tanker aircraft for expanding the IAF’s strike capability through latest mid-air refuellers as well as the Safran aircraft engines under the Make in India programme. The jet engines which are used by Dassault Aviation for the Rafale jets could be used to power the twin-engine advanced multi-role combat aircraft developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) till it develops its own version.