Franco-Indian Maritime Cooperation: Implications for the Indo-Pacific

With the shift of global power center from Europe to Asia, Indo-Pacific, regarded as “maritime underbelly” has become geo-economics and geostrategic contestation. This significance Indo-Pacific maritime realm drawn attention several regional extra-regional powers since past decade. In this changing geopolitical scenario, security acquired primacy in Indian foreign policy discourse. To counter growing Chinese presence its strategic backyard, New Delhi is increasingly looking for partners advance idea ‘Free, Open, Inclusive Indo-Pacific’ also establish itself a net provider Ocean Region. France skeptical assertive China threat interests. Since 1998, India’s all-weather partner. their shared strategy, there greater opportunity them cooperate region. Coupled with bilateral opportunity, trilateral or minilateral gaining ground. Whatever may be motivation, if realized such frameworks can have far-reaching ramifications. context, paper seeks analyze implications Franco-Indian relationship