India-France Relations in the Post-Cold War Era

Abstract

India-France relations in the post-Cold War era are very cordial. As early as the 1980s, France wished to give greater scope to its relations with India. Relations between India and France have traditionally been close and friendly. With the establishment of strategic partnerships in 1998, there has been significant progress in all areas of bilateral cooperation through regular high-level exchanges at the Head of State/Head of Government levels and growing cooperation and exchanges including in strategic areas such as defense, counter-terrorism, nuclear energy, and space. France was the first country with which India agreed on civil nuclear cooperation following the waiver given by the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group, enabling India to resume full civil nuclear cooperation with the international community