There’s trade deals, there's partnerships… and then there’s fighter jets.
Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai to put the finishing touches on a 30-billion euro sale of 114 Rafale fighter jets. This third batch comes as France struggles to convince European neighbors to either buy its warplanes, build one together or at the very least get NATO allies to de-risk from relying on US-made F-35s.
On the Indian side, there’s the scrutiny over how Rafale sales have gone so far, both with cost and in combat. Then there’s question of how much Delhi weenes itself off historic supplier Russia. And what goes for military hardware goes for oil imports, what with US pressure to stop buying discounted crude from Moscow.
On that score what to make of fast-tracked trade deals with Washington, the European Union… and how much strategic autonomy both India and France can afford in a realigning world.
Produced by Charles Wente, Aline Bottin, Daniel Whittington and Ilayda Habip
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Jean-Luc RACINE Senior Researcher, Asia Centre
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Coumar ANANDA President, Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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Mohan Kumar Former Indian ambassador to France
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Deepa OLLAPALLY Research Professor of International Affairs, George Washington University
English (US) · 