Doval briefs French President on Indian efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war
President Macron believes that PM Modi can play a positive role in ending the war since he has gained the trust of the heads of both countries
French President Emmanuel Macron told Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor, on Tuesday (October 1) that France appreciates Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives to advance peace in Eastern Europe.
Doval is in Paris for the India-France Strategic Dialogue.
He is reported to have informed President Macron about the discussions India has had with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on ways to end the war and bring about peace in Eastern Europe.
Macron and Doval are also supposed to have discussed Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
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Macron believes Modi can play positive role to end war
Officials in Delhi and Paris said that President Macron believes that PM Modi can play a positive role in bringing an end to the Russia-Ukraine war since he has gained the trust of the heads of both countries after several meetings and telephone calls, according to a report by the Hindustan Times.
Doval is scheduled to have strategic dialogues with Emmanuel Bonne, Macron’s diplomatic advisor, French Defence Minister Sebastian Lecormu, and Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot. Both India and France are keen to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations with regard to fighter planes, nuclear submarines, cyber security, and military satellites in space.
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Macron govt ready to support ‘Make in India’ initiative
Sources say that the Macron government is ready to support the “Make in India” initiative by offering to produce the Rafale fighter jets and Safran engines on a 100 per cent transfer of technology basis.
Just before Doval left for Paris, Dassault Aviation had conveyed the final price offer for the acquisition of 26 Rafale-M jets by India for its navy. Both sides expect the deal to be concluded by the end of this year.
Another collaboration between the two nations is the joint project by India’s Mazagon Dockyards Ltd. and the French Naval Group in building three more Kalvari-class submarines with an emphasis on endurance and capability that will make them more powerful than the six Kalvari-class submarines that India acquired in 2001.