India and France have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) during the 7th India-France Maritime Cooperation Dialogue held on January 14 in New Delhi.
The dialogue was co-chaired by India’s Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor and the Director General for International Relations and Strategy at France’s Ministry for the Armed Forces, Ms. Alice Rufo.
La Réunion, Mayotte and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, which have a combined population of over 1 million citizens, make France a fully-fledged Indian Ocean State. France is also a member of two regional organizations that bring together the region’s States: the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
According to a joint release issued on January 20, the two nations discussed enhancing collaboration in the IOR, emphasizing their shared vision for maritime security as a cornerstone of the India-France Strategic Partnership. The dialogue underscored the importance of upholding international law, promoting multilateralism, and ensuring respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and freedom of navigation.
Key Outcomes:
Commitment to a Free and Open Indian Ocean Region: Both sides reiterated their dedication to ensuring secure and open access to sea lanes of communication, aligning with their 2018 ‘Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.’ France acknowledged India’s contributions to the Combined Maritime Forces and expressed support for India’s anticipated leadership in related task forces.
Strengthening Strategic Ties: The dialogue showcased the growing partnership between India and France in addressing shared security and environmental challenges in the IOR. Both nations remain committed to mutual support and collaboration to ensure maritime safety, sustainable resource use, and regional stability.
“Both sides agreed to strengthen existing mechanisms of cooperation such as implementation of the agreed framework of exchange of information through enhanced information exchange between Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region, Gurugram and Regional Coordination Operations Centre, Seychelles and Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre, Madagascar in the Indian Ocean Region, and explore opportunities for coordinated surveillance whilst deployed to counter threats to maritime security in the region,” the release said.
Joint Efforts Against Maritime Threats: India and France agreed to develop a comprehensive assessment of maritime security challenges in the IOR. This includes combating illicit activities such as piracy, maritime terrorism, smuggling, unregulated fishing, and addressing hybrid and cyber security threats as well as marine pollution.
Enhanced Information Exchange: Both nations pledged to bolster existing mechanisms for information sharing. This includes enhanced cooperation between the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (India), the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (Seychelles), and the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (Madagascar). Opportunities for coordinated surveillance to counter regional maritime threats were also discussed.
Biodiversity and Ocean Conservation: Acknowledging the significance of sustainable ocean governance, India and France committed to preserving marine biodiversity in the IOR. They emphasized their collaboration through the United Nations Ocean Conference and the Indian Ocean Rim Association, building on progress made during past bilateral dialogues on the blue economy.
The joint effort underscores the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region and the role of India and France in fostering peace, security, and sustainable development.
