Shared vision and values

My article Shared vision and values appeared in The Statesman on December 16. Click here to read.

The Gracious Wife and the Arlesienne

Have you heard of The Arlesienne?
In 1866, Alphonse Daudet, the famous French novelist wrote a story in which the main character, from the small town of Arles in Southern France (an Arlesienne is a girl from Arles), never appears on stage (a few years later, the great composer George Bizet wrote an opera on the subject). During the entire play, the spectators wait for The Arlesienne. Since then in colloquial French, an Arlesienne means someone whom everybody speaks about but no one ever sees.
One could apply this expression to the ‘refitting’ (or modernization) of some 52 Mirage 2000 for the Indian Air Force.
During the past couple of years, one has heard a number of times that the contract ‘will be signed next week or next month at the latest’. But a few months later, the same answer would be forthcoming: “it is imminent”!
Defence experts logically predicted that the contract would be signed during the ‘working’ visit (it was not a ‘State’ visit, but only classified as a ‘working’ one) of President Sarkozy in Delhi last week.
While seven agreements were inked on December 6, the ‘refitting’ of the Mirage was not included. The signed agreements were on film co-production, on development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, on N-Science between the two Departments of Atomic Energy, on confidentiality of technical data, on cooperation in earth system science and climate change with ISRO; and of course the ‘general framework’ agreement on civil nuclear cooperation with France’s nuclear power giant Areva.
The main feature of the visit was obviously the decision of Delhi and Paris to build two European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs) of 1650 MW each for an estimated cost of about 9.5 billion dollars. However, it was only a ‘framework agreement’. Due to the complexity of the project between Areva and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), talks will probably take several months, if not a couple of years to reach a final conclusion. But it is on track, although when asked about the prices and the delay, both the Indian Prime Minister and the French President refused to answer. Further, the issue of civil liabilities will also have be thrashed out since the French side indicated before the visit that they were not satisfied with some clauses in the present Nuclear Liabilities Bill, recently (and painfully) voted by the Indian Parliament. Compromise will have to be found and hopefully will be found. The Jaitapur site in Maharashtra will ultimately have six reactors and produce 10,000 MW of power, a boon for ‘developing’ India.
The Joint Declaration rightly says that “the signing of the General Framework Agreement between NPCIL and Areva represents a significant milestone.”
What about the modernization of the Mirages?
The Declaration mentions: “Discussions concerning the upgrading of Mirage 2000 aircraft are expected to be finalised soon.”
According to knowledgeable sources, this time, it is done!
The French side, which was reluctant to accept arbitration in case of dispute, has finally agreed, while Delhi has accepted the price found ‘exorbitant’ by many in India.
The Times of India explained that the contract “has been stuck in hard-nosed negotiations for the last few years because the package offered by French companies Dassault Aviation (manufacturer), Thales (weapons systems integrator) and MBDA (missile supplier) was around 30% higher than what India was ready to pay initially.”
Nobody questions the fact that for the past two decades, the Mirages 2000 have done extremely well and one understands that the Indian Air Force was vouching for Dassault. The newly ‘refitted’ fighter planes should serve for some 15-20 years more.
After getting the final nod from the Cabinet Committee on Security, The Arlesienne may finally appear on stage; then four to six planes will be ‘modernized’ in France, while the rest of the work will be done by Hindustan Aeronautics under a transfer of technology. The entire project is estimated at Rs 15,000 crores (some 3 billion dollars).
This deal is symbolic of the visit. Though final contracts were not signed, substantive progresses were made on several pending files.
Before the visit, Herve Morin, then Minister of Defence told us: “President Nicolas Sarkozy’s upcoming visit in December will make our partnership progress even further in all its facets.”

It is what has happened and even if the Indian and French press were quick to announce a total of 15 billions euros ($ 20 billions) of signed deals during the visit, $ 10 billions for Areva to supply the two first nuclear reactors plus 3 helicopters, a leasing of 14 Airbus planes, a Michelin factory in Chennai and ‘The Arlesienne’ Mirages, most are only ‘promised’ deals or ‘framework’ accords. These figures were however confirmed by the French President’s Office.
Other interesting project in the pipeline (which has not been listed in Delhi’s shopping list) is the co-production between France’s MBDA and DRDO of a short-range surface-to-air missile system called ‘Maitri'.
During his four days in India, President Sarkozy reiterated several times, France’s support to India for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council: “I believe that we need a reform in the Security Council… the world is not the same than in 1945. It is unacceptable that in two years India [today India is a non-permanent member] should be asked to leave”.
Whether in Bangalore, Delhi or Mumbai, the French President repeated that he was fully with India in its fight against terrorism originating from Pakistan: “France stands in total solidarity with India. If India is attacked, democracy is attacked. Terrorism and insurgency in Pakistan and Afghanistan are a major source of threat to world peace and stability. We cannot afford see Taliban succeed in Afghanistan."
Sarkozy appealed to India to support France’s Presidency of the G20, particularly the reforms of the monetary system. The Joint Declaration clearly stated: “France and India would like to work together to make the G20 as effective as possible and help it find its place within an international system that will better reflect today’s world and challenges.”
During a reception at the French Embassy, Sarkozy asked his countrymen to look at India as an example of a nation which has been able to ‘change and innovate’: “The world is changing with a stupefying speed. One century ago, France had her place in the world; France was one of the 4 or 5 great powers, it was their right to lead the world. They run the world. Today if our country wants to keep its place, we have to merit it, this can only be done by our work, our efforts and our capacity to innovate. France should sometimes get its inspiration from what is happening elsewhere.” He had earlier said that India should be a source of inspiration, “France needs not to change itself, but to remain itself, if it wants its message to be heard in the world. …We can’t tell others what should be done, we should do it ourselves.”
In many ways, the partnership between France and India has becomes more mature, and even if millions of Indians are emotionally moved when President Obama speak two words in Hindi or does a Namaste, Paris is in many ways closer to Delhi than Washington. The Joint Statement rightly reaffirmed the “shared vision and values inspired by multilateralism, justice, freedom, equality and fraternity, France and India reiterated their determination and confirmed their commitment to work together towards peace and global security.”
During the press conference at Hyderabad House, I saw only one smile on the solemn Indian Prime Minister’s face: it is when he welcomed ‘President Sarkozy and his gracious wife’. He may have been charmed but this cannot entirely explain the trusted relations between France and India.

India can count on France’s support

My article on Sarkozy's visit in The New Indian Express. Click here.

Sarkozy visits India: trade, defence … and Carla to dominate

I am quoted in an article Sarkozy visits India: trade, defence … and Carla to dominate posted on the site of France 24. 

A Mature Partnership

During a recent visit in Delhi, Admiral Edouard Guillaud, the French Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) quoted Kautilya: “An unfailing ally is one who receives and provides help because of old bonds, friendship and generosity”.
At a Press Conference, the CDS explained that India and France not only “share similar ideals of freedom, democracy and cultural diversity”, but the two countries have also common objectives, namely “a safer world, a better managed Indian Ocean and a more stable Afghanistan"...
To read my article, go to page 60 of Geopolitics (December 2010) or click here.

Indo-French Friendship to Partnership

The first part of an article written for The Indian Defense Review is posted on the site of the Review. Click here to read.

France is a very critical partner

My interview with Ranjan Mathai, India's Ambassador to France is posted on Rediff.com's website. Click here to read.

Brilliant, impatient, undiplomatic, hard to predict, charming, innovative, and summit-prone

As President Sarkozy arrives in India, I am posting some comments on 'Sarko The American' (as Le Monde called him) from the US cables 'declassified' by Wikileaks. Of course, it is viewed from an American angle.


January 24, 2008
PRESIDENT SARKOZY ARTICULATES HIS FRAMEWORK FOR FRENCH FOREIGN POLICY
Summary
In this annual New Year's message to the Diplomatic Corps on delivered on January 18, President Sarkozy laid out a theoretical justification for recasting France's role on the international scene in the twin challenges before the international community: climate change and the "return of the religious extremism" as a factor in international politics. Sarkozy called for "four innovations" to prevail over these challenges: 1) returning France to the "heart of the occidental family," 2) dedicating France to a "diplomacy of reconciliation," 3) affirming "diversity" while demanding "its corollary, reciprocity," and 4) working towards the "construction of a world order adapted to the emergence of new powers and therefore capable of dealing effectively with the challenges of the 21st century." The specific initiatives Sarkozy said France would be pursuing during the coming year -- from reform of the UNSC to pressing for continued sanctions against Iran, from expansion of the G-8 to the hosting of an Afghanistan donors' conference -- all link to Sarkozy's projected role for France as leading the way towards the international unity needed to meet the environmental challenge to humanity from global warming and the political challenge to secular democracy from religious fundamentalists. END SUMMARY.

May 19, 2008
FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM AMBASSADOR STAPLETON
Summary
Mr. President, you will arrive in France as Nicolas Sarkozy begins the second year of a five-year term as President. You will meet a Sarkozy chastened by the experience of a first year marked by a sharp drop in his political stock at home, but during which he nevertheless reclaimed French leadership in Europe and moved France closer to the U.S. Sarkozy was elected in May 2007 on a platform of fundamental domestic reform, promising to unleash France’s economic potential and to adapt the country to globalization.  He has undertaken a range of domestic reforms but the results have been somewhat disappointing -- to supporters who advocated more daring implementation of a more ambitious set of measures, and to a public that expected an immediate positive impact in household purchasing power. Though the public by and large continues to support Sarkozy’s reform effort, his personal popularity has plummeted, mostly as a result of his “unpresidential” parading of his personal life and his weakness for glitz -- an image he is now seeking to repair.
2. (C) Sarkozy was not elected on a foreign policy platform, but this is where he has thus far left his clearest mark, repositioning France to work alongside the U.S. to meet common challenges and leading Europe to its next institutional advance in the form of the Lisbon Treaty. While stressing France’s independence of action, Sarkozy has sought to enlarge French influence by working constructively with the U.S., setting aside France’s Gaullist vocation of tempering the United States’ “hegemonic” position in world affairs. This “repositioning” (Sarkozy’s term) vis-a- vis the U.S. is seen most clearly in Sarkozy’s articulation of the stakes for France, NATO and the West in Afghanistan, his commitment of more troops to NATO’s stabilization efforts there, and his declared intention to re-join NATO’s integrated military command structure in the context of an invigorated European effort on defense. Your visit provides an opportunity to support and give further impetus to Sarkozy’s refashioning of the U.S.-French relationship, and to demonstrate to the French public that Sarkozy was right in positing that a closer relationship with us increases France’s influence without undermining its independence. A discussion of France’s approach to key international issues closes out this message. END SUMMARY.

2009, March 20
FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM CHARGE D’AFFAIRES MARK PEKALA
Key points:
-- Your visit comes at a historic time. Nicolas Sarkozy is the most pro-American French President since World War II and is, at the moment, arguably the most influential leader in Europe. Sarkozy’s goodwill and your prestige give us an unprecedented opportunity to cement the positive changes he has already made and to strengthen the relationship for years to come.
-- Sarkozy is unquestionably the driving force in all of French foreign and domestic policy. A pragmatist and an activist, he can be brilliant, impatient, undiplomatic, hard to predict, charming, innovative, and summit-prone. He strongly believes that it takes political leaders to slice through the &Gordian knots8 that bureaucracies can often be unable to resolve. He has no qualms about jettisoning policies that, from his perspective, have outlived their usefulness.
-- Your personal rapport with Sarkozy will be a factor in the overall relationship, and he is eager for a genuine friendship in addition to a working relationship. He was disappointed not to have been the first EU leader invited to Washington.
-- Expect Sarkozy to pitch big ideas on everything from the financial crisis to the Middle East peace process. In turn, he will respond well to your bold, inventive proposals.
-- Sarkozy should get a clear sense of your priorities and, as appropriate, red lines. Sarkozy wants to get off on the right foot with you and will respect your goals.
End key points.

2009, December 04
FOR THE SECRETARY FROM AMBASSADOR RIVKIN
Summary. At the mid-point of his five-year term, French President Sarkozy continues to be the dominant, virtually unchallenged, political force in France. Slowed in domestic reform efforts by entrenched interests and the world-wide financial crisis, Sarkozy is increasingly focused on successfully leveraging France’s foreign policy influence on the global stage. Ambitious and action-oriented, Sarkozy doesn’t hesitate to break traditional French policies and reach out to new partners, from Saudi Arabia and Syria to India and Brazil. His impatience for results and desire to seize the initiative -- with or without the support of international partners and his own advisors -- challenges us to channel his impulsive proposals into constructive directions with an eye to long-term results. Sarkozy himself is firmly convinced of the need for a strong transatlantic partnership and he has long desired to be THE major partner to the U.S. in Europe, whether on climate change and non-proliferation or Iran and the Middle East. Our effort to secure increased French contributions in Afghanistan offers an interesting perspective on the centralization of key decision-making powers in the French President and how to best work with Sarkozy as a valued, and valuable, partner. With high-profile events like the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) prep-com next spring, and Sarkozy preparing to lead France’s chairmanship of the G-8/G-20 in 2011, we believe we can best secure our interests across a broad front through continued close consultations with our French partners (including, and perhaps especially, at the highest levels), with an eye to leveraging Sarkozy’s strong political standing, desire for action, and willingness to make difficult decisions into force multipliers for our foreign policy interests. End Summary.

NO ONE TO SAY “NO”
¶7. (C/NF) Sarkozy has few restraints -- political, personal or ideological -- to act as a brake on his global ambitions. Domestically, he rewards party leaders prepared to adopt his policies and marginalizes any opponents with a diverse view. Several “favored” cabinet ministers with high profiles early in his administration -- including Rama Yade and Rachida Dati -- were subsequently bumped into secondary jobs after having disagreed with Sarkozy. On the other hand, State Secretary for European Affairs, Pierre Lellouche, willingly muzzled his long-term outspoken support for Turkish Accession to the EU in exchange for his current post. While Diplomatic Advisor (NSA-equivalent) Jean-David Levitte remains a key player, with an extensive background in diplomacy and a calming personality, other advisors like Secretary General Claude Gueant are playing an increasingly public role. Despite having Sarkozy’s ear to various degrees, few appear to exercise any significant degree of influence over the activist president.
¶8. (C/NF) Sarkozy’s own advisors likewise demonstrate little independence and appear to have little effect on curbing the hyperactive president, even when he is at his most mercurial. Elysee contacts have reported to us the great lengths they will go to avoid disagreeing with him or provoking his displeasure -- even recently reportedly re-routing the President’s plane to avoid his seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up in Turkey’s colors on the visit of PM Erdogan (a decision made by the Paris city hall). After two years in office, many seasoned key Elysee staff are leaving for prestigious onward assignments as a reward for their hard work, raising questions as to whether new faces will be any more willing to point out when the emperor is less than fully dressed.

Return of Sarkozy shows France's importance to India

My article Return of Sarkozy shows France's importance to India is been published by IANS.

The Story of a City

My article in today's Special Edition of The Times of India.


In the afternoon of April 4, 1910, the Pondicherry pier witnessed a strange scene: a strict orthodox Tamil Brahmin, Srinivasachari, and Suresh Chakravarti, an 18-year old Bengali revolutionary took a small boat to row out to the steamer Le Dupleix to receive an important ‘personality’. On board was Sri Aurobindo, a man who Viceroy Lord Minto had called ‘the most dangerous man we have to reckon with’. A few days earlier, the revolutionary leader had received an adesh (an ‘inner order’), ‘Go to Pondicherry’.
During the following four decades, the Master consecrated his spiritual energies to help humanity to undertake what he termed a new step in its evolution. This event was to change forever the destiny of the French settlement on the Coromandel Coast.
More than 150 years earlier, François Dupleix had become the first Governor of the Territory. Though Pondicherry was for some time under British Rule, the Treaty of Paris in 1814 restored the settlement to the French who remained till the Merger with India on November 1, 1954.
During the preceding months, Jawaharlal Nehru had requested Indian ‘freedom fighters’ to avoid violence. He wanted the transfer to take place smoothly; there should be no bitterness between France and India, he thought (he spoke of ‘French window on India’). The French were also aware that a quiet transition was better for everybody. The ‘soft’ French colonization and Sri Aurobindo’s presence have remained the hallmarks of the Union Territory, today called Puducherry.
A few years ago, Francis Wacziarg, the founder of the Nimrana Group who had opened the first Heritage Hotel in Puducherry told us: “The UPS (Unique Selling Proposition) of this place is the former French presence. Without its French character Puducherry would just be like any other sleepy town of Tamil Nadu, without any tourist interest”.
Just take the heritage walk organized by the local branch of INTACH in Puducherry’s ‘white town’ and you will immediately understand. You will suddenly be projected a century ago when the descendants of Duplex ruled over the place.
The enticing motto of the Tourism Department ‘Give time a break’, attracts annually several lakhs of tourists (amongst them many foreigners).
Though the place has vastly changed after the departure of the French, the town has kept its caché. Architecture certainly creates an atmosphere, but without the French cuisine, one would miss the real goût français (French taste). Several restaurants (Satsanga is probably the most authentic) have specialized in serving French delicacies which, if you so choose, can be accompanied by the traditional glass of wine.
A few years ago, an initiative to preserve the colonial architectural heritage of the town was undertaken by INTACH. The project has been a tremendous success; even the local government has understood that projecting the colonial past was the best way to fill up the Union Territory’ coffer.
Another attraction is Auroville, the international township founded by The Mother, Sri Aurobindo’s collaborator, in 1968.
Since then, pioneers started settling on a desert of red laterite, some 12 km north of Pondicherry town. The task was immense, but the most immediate need was down-to earth, to find shade from the scorching South Indian sun. Aurovilians started to rejuvenate the arid land; they planted trees, built bunds and dams to stop the soil being washed away with the monsoon rains and constructed the first primitive houses. It is how the first pioneers became ‘experts’ in environment. Today, Auroville is also known for the quality and creativity of its crafts.
Since a few years, the French leadership has realized the potentiality of a closer collaboration with India, not only in the economic field, but also in the cultural and scientific domains. President Sarkozy’s forthcoming visit to India should give a new impetus to the bilateral collaboration; one can only hope that Puducherry will find a special place in this new partnership.

India knows that it can count on France’s support

The last time President Sarkozy visited India was in January 2008; he was then unmarried. Most of the coverage of his visit related to his romance with Carla Bruni and ‘his return’ to India to witness a full-moon at the Taj Mahal with her.
On December 5, this will be happen, minus the full-moon which could not be arranged by the Ministry of External Affairs.
But there are also serious diplomatic issues to be discussed between France and India, which have enjoyed an old and dependable strategic partnership, signed during Jacques Chirac’s visit to Delhi in 1998.
Sandwiched between the trips of Presidents Obama and Medvedev, as well Premier Wen Jiabao, Sarkozy’s three-day visit to India can only reinforce the bilateral partnership, particularly in the field of civil nuclear cooperation and defense.
When we asked Ranjan Mathai, India's ambassador to France about his expectation for the Summit (the first after Dr Manmohan Singh attended the French National Day in Paris in 2009), the ambassador explained that the July 2009 short trip had been important not only because the Indian Prime Minister was the Chief Guest at the Champs-Elysées parade, but “it helped us to review certain very important issues, particularly civil nuclear cooperation, defense issues and the strategic and political dialogues.”
Mathai pointed out that the French and Indian leaders have also met in Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) in November 2009, in April 2010 in Washington and then on the occasion of the recent G20 Summit in Seoul. Three face to face encounters in one year for two personalities with seemingly opposite character traits, but who deeply appreciate each other.
In September 2008, France was the first country to sign a civilian nuclear deal with India. In this field, Mathai confirms that negotiations are progressing smoothly between Areva and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL): “There are issues related to the cost or the technical aspects of the project, safety, etc. to be sorted out. If one looks at the entire picture, we have made substantial progress. Hopefully in a few weeks, we will reach some conclusions. Then, a techno-commercial contract has to be finalized, but this will take a little more time.”
Not only has the 9900-MWe Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project now received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, but the Nuclear Liabilities Bill was passed by the Parliament. Paris believes that it is an important step forward in clarifying issues as the liability issue is for both sides a complicated question and the responsibilities between the ‘supplier’ (Areva) and the ‘operator’ (NPCIL) need to be clearly delineated. It is a long and necessary process.
The fact that a decision on the purchase of 126 medium multirole combat aircraft is around the corner is probably not foreign to the visit of all these Heads of States to Delhi (Obama is bidding for his F-16IN, Medvedev for the MIG-35 while Sarkozy is pushing for the Rafale). In an interview for the Indian Defence Review in October, when we asked Hervé Morin, the French Defence Minister (he was replaced by former Prime Minister Alain Juppé in a major reshuffle in November, but French policies remain the same) about ‘the contract of the century’, he answered: “We have a long-standing military cooperation [with India]. When India desired to diversify its military relations in the early 1980s, France responded and a relationship of trust was built, especially with the Mirage 2000s.” The Minister pointed out that “whether it concerns her candidature for a permanent seat at the Security Council or the amendment of regulations for civil nuclear energy exportation, India knows that it can count on France’s support.”
Paris had given its support long before Obama gave his emotional speech to the Indian Parliament. Moring thought that President Sarkozy’s trip “will make our partnership progress even further in all facets, be it facing common threats, intensifying our operational cooperation, or bringing the projects for equipping the Indian armed forces, launched together, to their fruition.”
Defense has always been a key component of the partnership. During a recent visit to Delhi, Admiral Edouard Guillaud, the French Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) quoted Kautilya: “An unfailing ally is one who receives and provides help because of old bonds, friendship and generosity”. He explained that India and France not only “share similar ideals of freedom, democracy and cultural diversity”, but the two countries also have common objectives, namely “a safer world, a better managed Indian Ocean and a more stable Afghanistan.”
The French Defense Minister spoke more concretely about “the supply of strategic equipment (fighter aircraft, submarines), and also state-of-the-art technology for the entire gamut of the Indian armed forces’ requirements”, he added “our own history has made us extremely sensitive to India’s desire to favour local production and develop the defence industry”. This has not been the case with many other countries.
Today, the main ongoing joint project is the manufacture, under French licence, of six Scorpene submarines at Mazagaon docks near Mumbai. President Sarkozy will probably visit the docks during his trip to Mumbai on December 7.
Apart from the long pending modernisation (known as ‘refitting’) of the Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 fleet, two joint development projects are in the pipeline: the Maitri project for a surface-to-air defence missile system, and the Kaveri fighter aircraft engine. The supply of reconnaissance and observation helicopters may also materialize during President Sarkozy’s stay.
For Paris, the Indo-French cooperation is centred at “the very heart of our security: counter-terrorism”. Concrete ‘operational’ cooperation is already taking place in fields like anti-piracy operations, joint exercises or officer exchanges and more importantly in sharing of intelligence inputs.
The visit to India of Jean-David Levitte, the ‘sherpa’ of President Sarkozy, during the second week of October was hardly noticed in Delhi. Monsieur Levitte is a very powerful man. In France, each and every file dealing with Foreign Affairs, terrorism or security comes to his desk. Levitte also acts as the unofficial National Security Advisor.
He came to India to prepare President Sarkozy’s visit, but also to inform the Government of India of the serious terrorist threats faced by France (several French hostages are held up by terrorist outfits in the Sahel region, Somalia and Afghanistan).
Both parties find that the joint air and naval exercises are of great value to increase mutual understanding. “If you ask the Services, they value these types of exchanges,” said Mathai. As an example, he quoted the fact that the Varuna joint naval exercises were held in the Atlantic in 2009, giving them a larger geopolitical significance.
Economy is also an important aspect of the relationship. Mathai called it the ‘second pillar of our relationship’. The creation in 2009 of a CEOs’ Forum co-chaired by Bertrand Colomb of Lafarge and Narayana Murthy of Infosys promised to further enhance the economic exchanges. The Forum has already met twice. Their main objective is to come up with concrete ideas about what needs to be done to build closer bilateral economic relations.
The French President and the Indian Prime Minister had placed the bar very high: a jump from 6 billion Euros in 2008 to 12 billion Euros in bilateral trade by the end of 2012, is a very ambitious target. Mathai is confident that it can be reached.
A full-moon on the Indo-French partnership would be a balance to a historically less reliable Indo-US collaboration.