India and France have agreed to enhancing defence and security partnership through more intelligence and information sharing, as well as bolstering capabilities, expanding bilateral exercises in the maritime sphere military drills and pursuing new initiatives in maritime, space and cyber domains.

The two countries resolved to expand the defence ties at a meeting of the annual India-France strategic dialogue in Paris that was co-chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Emmanuel Bonne, the Diplomatic Advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron.

France is one of India's premier global and Indo-Pacific partners.

Significance of India-France dialogue
The reiteration by France to deepen cooperation with India in the Indo-Pacific came nearly two months after a new security alliance (AUKUS) by Australia, the UK and the US came into being.

This AUKUS alliance is perceived as an effort to counter China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.

Under the terms of the alliance, nuclear-powered submarines will be built for Australia.

This did not go down well with the French government after Canberra pulled out of a separate submarine deal with Paris.