PM MODI VISIT TO EUROPE
The Prime Minister (PM) of India is on a visit to three European countries namely, Germany, Denmark and France. This foreign visit comes at a time Europe is witnessing the Russia-Ukraine War. The visit of the Indian PM highlights the importance India attaches to its ties with Europe.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE VISIT?
INDIA & GERMANY RELATIONSHIP
Germany is one of India’s most important partners in Europe, with deep bilateral relations, and because of its key role in the European Union. India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the Federal Republic of Germany after World War II (WWII). India and Germany have had a ‘Strategic Partnership’ since May 2000, and it has been strengthened with the launch of the Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) in 2011 at the level of heads of government. India is among a select group of countries with which Germany has such a dialogue mechanism.
Significance: Germany has made key strategic choices in the Russia-Ukraine war. It has promised to reduce its energy dependence on Russia and decided to increase defence spending — a significant move, given its post-WWII posture. With India too dependent on Russia for defence supplies, it will be important for India and Germany to exchange notes on strategic choices — and moving away from Russia for their respective needs.
INDIA & DENMARK RELATIONSHIP
Bilateral relations were elevated to the level of a “Green Strategic Partnership'' during the Virtual Summit held in September 2020. The first India-Nordic Summit took place in April 2018 to explore new areas of cooperation. This format is special, the only other country with which the Nordic countries — Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland — have this kind of engagement is with the US.
Significance: Nordic countries are pioneers in innovation, clean energy, green technologies, education, health-care, human rights, rule of law. This presents enormous opportunities for India to expand its own strengths by collaborating with these countries. Also, India presents an ideal opportunity to these countries because of its large market. Many new flagship schemes have been launched by India — like Make in India, Smart Cities Mission, Start-up India, Clean Ganga etc — in which Nordic countries can take active part and provide their expertise.
INDIA & FRANCE RELATIONSHIP
India and France have traditionally had close relations. In 1998, the two entered into a Strategic Partnership, with defence & security cooperation, space cooperation and civil nuclear cooperation being its pillars. India and France also have a robust economic partnership, and are increasingly engaged in new areas of cooperation. France was among the few western countries to not condemn India after the 1998 Pokhran tests. It has continued to support India’s claim for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. France’s support was vital in India’s accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime, Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group. France continues to support India’s bid for accession to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. France has also supported India’s requests to block attempts by Pakistan to enlist Indian citizens under the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee.
- Significance: Indian Ocean, the Common Shared Interest: France needs to protect its colonial territorial possessions like Reunion Island and Indian ocean being the zone of influence for India.
- Counter Terrorism: France backed the India’s proposal for a global conference on terrorism. Both the countries also support organizing a new “No Money for Terror” - an International Conference on Fighting Terrorist Financing.
- France Backing India: France also continues to steadfastly back India on Kashmir while its relations with Pakistan have plummeted in the recent past and China has become an object of suspicion.
- Defense Cooperation: India and France have entered in the phase of close defense partnership. For example, recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has inducted French Rafale multi-role combat aircraft.
INDIA & EUROPE RELATIONSHIP
India in 1962 had been one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community — the precursor of the European Union. A Cooperation Agreement signed in 1994 broadened the relationship to include ministerial meetings and a political dialogue. These ties have expanded to include political and security issues, climate change and clean energy, information and communications technology, space and nuclear, health, agriculture and food security, and education and culture.
Significance of the Visit: The visit to Europe is likely to set the stage for the India-EU summit and a boost in Free Trade Agreement negotiations, which have been ongoing for a decade and a half now.
RELATED: INDIA & NORDIC COUNTRIES BILATERAL TALKS
Recently, the Prime Minister of India held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland. At the meetings, a discussion was made regarding ways to further deepen bilateral ties and views were exchanged on regional and global developments. The meeting was organized on the sidelines of the second India-Nordic Summit in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
BACKGROUND OF 2ND INDIA-NORDIC SUMMIT
The second edition was held against the backdrop of the two most significant events that affected the world. One is post-pandemic economic recovery, and the other is the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Besides economy, trade and investment, the summit can be seen from the perspective of the concept of the welfare state that goes along with capitalism and democratic practices, blending the welfare model with the market economy. India’s Arctic Policy provides a good framework for expansion of India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region. The Nordic countries reiterated their support for India’s permanent membership of a reformed and expanded United Nation Security Council. At the inaugural edition of the summit in 2018, the focus of the leadership was on global security, economic growth, innovation and climate change while emphasizing innovation and digital transformation as a driver of growth. The first summit sought to explore an extension of the application to New Delhi's flagship programmers like Make in India, Startup India, Digital India and Clean India, besides the support of the Nordic countries' Sustainable Cities Project to India's Smart Cities project. At the first summit, the Nordic countries welcomed India's application for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.
SIGNIFICANCE OF NORDIC COUNTRIES FOR INDIA
India and Nordic countries enjoy robust business partnerships through the economics of these countries individually is much smaller than those of the G20 countries. The combined GDP is over USD 1.6 trillion, with a per capita income of around USD 54,000. The total bilateral trade and services between India and the Nordic countries is USD 13 billion.
Areas of Cooperation:
The countries which have technological prowess and growing business ties will explore cooperation in five areas of mutual interest. These include green partnership, digital and innovation economy, trade and investment linkages, sustainable development, and collaboration regarding the Arctic region. Apart from the United States, India is the only other country with which the Nordic countries have summit-level meetings.
TEST YOURSELF
Q.1 Recently in May 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited 3 European Countries. Which of the following is not one of them?
- Switzerland: ANSWER
- Denmark
- Germany
- France
Q.2 The Nordic countries are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic. From the given options, which of the following countries is not considered as the Nordic nation?
- Denmark
- Hungary: ANSWER
- Iceland
- None of the above-mentioned
Q.3 Olaf Schloz who recently became the new German Chancellor hails from which of the following political parties of Germany?
- Green Party
- Social Democratic Party: ANSWER
- Liberal Party of Germany
- None of the following
Q.4 The ISA which is an Indian initiative that was launched by which of the following two countries on the side-lines of the Conference of the Parties (COP-21)?
- India & United Kingdom
- France & India: ANSWER
- France & United Kingdom
- None of the above
Q.5 Which of the following nations currently hold the presidency of G7 in 2021?
- France
- United Kingdom: ANSWER
- United States of America
- Japan
