The Security Space Agreement between India and France is very ambitious and has never been done before. It could lead to the launch of military satellites with offensive and defensive capabilities by both countries, according to people familiar with the issue. According to reports, French Defence Minister Sebastien Locornu and India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval signed the deal in secret on January 26, while French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were at the "At Home" Republic Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
letter of intent (LoI)
For a defence space relationship, both countries signed a letter of intent (LoI). There will be better global situational awareness, protection of communication and surveillance satellites, and a clearer battleground in the air, on land, and at sea if the two allies work together on space security and build defence and operational capabilities. Francois Hollande, India's first civilian space partner, and the Modi government are working on a strategic space relationship.
With this agreement, the space agencies of both countries can work together to protect national security by building and launching armed satellites. India has armed satellites that will watch out for its enemies and protect its space assets in case something bad happens. France will help India with its defence needs "with no limits," President Macron told his Indian counterparts. This includes planning, designing, building, and approving new systems that meet the needs of both countries.
Such work includes planning, creating, building, and certifying new systems that meet the needs of both countries. On the condition of anonymity, a high-level official said, "India and France have decided to put money into a long-term relationship." France is a part of the EU, so they agree with each other on issues like the Houthi and the Gaza war. But they don't agree as much on the Ukraine war.
Regarding politics, the two countries agree on the Houthi and the Gaza war, but not so much on the Ukraine war since France is a part of the EU. France's President Macron spent two days in India. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was with him the whole time, from the airport to the hotel and back again. PM Modi rolled out the red carpet for him. It surprised President Macron to see that support for Prime Minister Modi was growing after the tour in Jaipur, since Modi had been in power for ten years prior.
India-France Support for Defence Plans
Both India and France have their own foreign policies and defence plans, but they have decided to back each other up. The reason for this is that the world is changing quickly. The Gaza war has made countries from Morocco to Iran less stable, and China is becoming more powerful in Southeast Asia. An additional five-year Schengen visa scheme lets Indian students go to the best universities in France to study. France can help India build high-tech weapons for security, such as engines for fighter planes, nuclear-attack submarines, and underwater drones.
India is where these tools will be made. The two leaders talked about a plan for India's defence industry that will help the country become self-sufficient over time and also help it build a manufacturing base. More jobs will be created, and Indians will depend less on goods from other countries. India is also going to make things that will be sent to other countries. President Macron told the Foreign, Defence, and Culture Ministers who were with him that ties between France and India should be fine. India should have no trouble using all of France's innovative technologies.
India and France signed the Security Space Agreement, which is a big and innovative deal that lets military satellites with both offensive and defence functions be sent into space. This agreement strengthens their defence partnership and helps India's defence industry become self-sufficient.
(With Input from agencies)
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