The Tata Group and Airbus have inked a deal to produce H125 helicopters, incorporating a substantial indigenous component. This aligns with the expanding defense industrial collaboration between India and France. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have established a defense partnership roadmap, outlining co-development and co-production of vital military hardware, as well as fostering technology collaboration in areas like space, cyberspace, and artificial intelligence.
The Foreign Secretary provided media briefings on the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Jaipur. Kwatra emphasized that the talks prioritized defense cooperation, emphasizing collaboration in the defense industrial sector, covering design, development, production, and establishing defense supply chains between the two nations. Additionally, an MoU was signed between New Space India Ltd and Arianespace for satellite launch cooperation.
PM Modi and President Macron also addressed the Israel-Gaza conflict, discussing its geopolitical implications, including disruptions in the Red Sea shipping region. Kwatra highlighted that the leaders delved into various aspects of the conflict, including its terror, humanitarian, and civil disruption dimensions. Regarding developments in the Red Sea, both leaders expressed serious concern about disruptions and potential threats to commercial shipping in the maritime domain.