Defence cooperation is the area of Franco-Indian relations that has seen the most substantial progress. Over time, the partnership has evolved from the short-term, tactical interactions of the Cold War era to a more long-term, strategic alignment. Today, France is one of India's most trusted Western defence partners.
On July 14th, a contingent of more than 400 Indian troops, drawn from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, marched down from the Arc de Triomphe monument during the Bastille Day military parade on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris. The event occurred in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. It undoubtedly heralds a new chapter in Franco-Indian ties, and the participation of Indian troops in the parade indicates a more profound trend that has been steadily growing over the past decade.
For India’s military, the Taliban is a threat looming large on the horizon. The perception of the Taliban making inroads into India had increased since December 2008, when Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud vowed to fight alongside the Pakistan army if a conflict broke out between India and Pakistan. The verbal threat has since been underlined by the Taliban’s eastward movement inside Pakistan, from its bases in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) to the city of Lahore, close to the Indian border in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
During the present global turmoil, the Australian government has announced an aggressive defence policy. The White Paper on defence, ‘Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030,’ envisages a considerable increase in defence expenditure and a significant military acquisition programme for the Australian Defence Forces (ADF).
The India-Japan partnership is one of the important thrust areas of Japan’s new foreign policy. In the recent past, except for Mori, Koizumi, and Abe, other prime ministers have shown little enthusiasm for improving their relationship with India. However, that trend seems to be changing.