Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
THE NEW RELATIONSHIP TAKES SHAPE
The French reaction to the nuclear tests once known, the new bilateral
relationship between Paris and New Delhi could develop on the lines defined in
January 1998, before the arrival of the Bharatiya Janata Party in power. A strategic
dialogue was engaged and developed. It was broad enough to allow bilateral and
international issues to be discussed with, the concept of 'security' covering much
more than the strict defence field.
In June 1998, barely three weeks after the nuclear tests, Brajesh Mishra,
Special Envoy and Principal Secretary to Prime Minister A.B.Vajpayee,
conducted in Paris the first visit to a P5 (five permanent member nations of the
UN Security Council) member by a very high-profile member of the Indian
administration. The Indo-US dialogue, conducted between Jaswant Singh (not yet
External Affairs Minister) and Strobe Talbot, the US Deputy Secretary of State,
started the same month. If the Indo-US dialogue was obviously the most potent,
engaging the French was relevant for New Delhi.
First, Paris was offering precious elbow room to Indian diplomacy at a
difficult time (the French were said to have mellowed the P5 and G8 statements
condemning India's tests, and were clearly not toeing the US line).
Second, France was a possible provider of high technology. On both accounts,
geopolitical and technical, France was seen as a way to balance whatsoever, even
if on unequal terms, the necessary dialogue with Washington.
The Strategic Dialogue
On his way back from the UN General Assembly held in New York, Prime
Minister A.B.Vajpayee conducted in Paris, in September 1998, his first official
visit to a major foreign state after assuming power. Economic prospects were not
forgotten, but strategic issues were on the top of the agenda: CTBT and terrorism,
amongst other points, were discussed. The idea of a strategic dialogue was
formalized. The first session was held in New Delhi one month later.
Since October 1998, two meetings a year are regularly organized between
Brajesh Mishra, later on nominated National Security Adviser, and Gérard
Errera, the French Special Emissary. The dialogue is not seen as a negotiation
round. It is a process aiming less at immediate results than at developing trust
and mutual understanding on all types of geopolitical issues. Paris shares India's
willingness to discuss freely all matters of global interest (and not just bilateral
or regional problems), and values good relations with a country seen as a
stabilizing force in Asia, and a future great power. New Delhi appreciates the
French openness, its dedication to a multipolar world order.
Both countries object to what Hubert Védrine defines as 'the
counterproductive aspects' of the US 'hyperpower'.
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Both countries are also
