Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed in detail the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its impact on developing countries. He said that the prime minister’s biggest advocate is to resolve the conflict through diplomacy.
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“In today’s talks between the two leaders (PM Modi-President Macron), there is a very clear understanding and appreciation of each other’s positions on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. PM Modi was perhaps the strongest advocate of resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Through diplomacy,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Kwatra said.
“So when the two leaders met as they did today and yesterday, they had a long discussion about what the current state of the Russia-Ukraine conflict is. But from our perspective, and I think it’s also appreciated by the friendly side. They’re developing the impact of this conflict. They discussed what is affecting the countries, the challenges, the growing challenges of food security and the growing uncertainty that makes for the rapid growth of fertilizer security challenges for energy security which may turn into food security challenges tomorrow. So all these things are part of the extensive dialogue between the two leaders. came for and they shared their vision,” Kwatra added.
Talking about the defense relationship, Quatra said, “The 2047 Horizon document looks at security and sovereignty more holistically and comprehensively than as a set of individual transactions. This is because the defense partnership is not defined by the metrics of a single acquisition or non-acquisition, a single procurement. or single transaction.”
“The nature of the India-France strategic partnership looks at all elements of our engagement. Hence the document commits the two countries, India and France, to cooperate in co-development and co-production of advanced defense technologies.”
“It also speaks of India’s intention to build its own defense industrial and technological base. It is a vision document. The basis and specifics of our defense partnership are actually adopted technology partnerships,” Kwatra said on defense ties between India and France.
“You get a whole range of military exercises between the armed forces in terms of military-industrial cooperation, research design and technology transfer. Co-production Co-production is increasingly being focused on in the coming years. Supply chain integration within the manufacturing ecosystem, in defense between the two countries. .Technology value chain integration between the two countries is progressing,” Kwatra added on defence.
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Without giving any details about helicopter engines or aero engines or any other aspect, Kwatra said many of its advanced defense technologies are caught under the broader rubric.
“The Prime Minister is very clear that many of these things have to be linked to the priority of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” the foreign secretary said.