Opinion - India-France ties should not replace relations with Washington

France and India are deepening a practical defence and tech partnership — regular joint military exercises, big Rafale fighter and submarine buys, and a broad Horizon 2047 R&D pact with talks on India joining France’s next-generation fighter program.
Both see themselves as independent strategic poles: nuclear powers that avoid formal alliances (France stressing “strategic autonomy” even inside NATO; India keeping non‑aligned policies).
Shared frustrations with recent U.S. moves (tariff threats, the AUKUS submarine row, possible oil sanctions) are nudging Paris and New Delhi closer as they hedge against Washington’s unpredictability.