India and France to work together on maritime surveillance in Indian Ocean Region

India and France strengthen maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region to counter various threats effectively.

India and France have agreed to explore opportunities for coordinated surveillance whilst deployed to counter threats to the maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The two countries also committed to support each other in maritime security engagements.

“Both sides agreed to strengthen existing mechanisms of cooperation such as implementation of the agreed framework of exchange of information through enhanced information exchange between Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region, Gurugram and Regional Coordination Operations Centre, Seychelles and Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre, Madagascar in the IOR,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement after the 7th India-France maritime cooperation dialogue held recently.

India and France agreed to develop a joint assessment of the threats to maritime security in the region; to counter illicit maritime activities, including piracy and armed robbery, maritime terrorism, contraband smuggling, illegal and unregulated fishing; hybrid as well as cyber security threats and marine pollution, the MEA said. Officials said that the efforts for coordinated surveillance will be to address these kind of threats.

India and France have carried out joint patrols in the past, with the Indian Navy deploying its P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft at French Reunion island in the Indian Ocean.

The dialogue held in Delhi was co-chaired by Pavan Kapoor, Deputy National Security Adviser, India and Alice Rufo, Director General for international relations and strategy, Ministry for the Armed Forces, France.

The statement noted that France welcomed the participation of the Indian Navy in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and looked forward to India’s leadership of the appropriate Combined Task Forces. The Indian Navy has a liaison officer posted at the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in Bahrain, who also functions as the point person for cooperation with the CMF, the multi-national naval partnership to promote security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

In November 2023, India announced its decision to become a full member of the CMF, of which it became an associate partner a year before in 2022.