Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday discussed cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, as France deals with the fallout from Australia’s cancellation of a $40 billion French submarine order. Apart from this, there was also a discussion between the two regarding the situation in Afghanistan.

A statement from Macron’s office said the two leaders held a phone conversation. Modi and Macron have spoken of strengthening bilateral cooperation in all areas, especially on the economic front.

Last week, France recalled its ambassadors from the United States and Australia after Australia canceled its previous nuclear submarine deal with France.

Australia, the US and the United Kingdom (UK) have recently formed a tripartite defense alliance called ‘Ocus’. Under this, Australia will be given the technology to make submarines from nuclear power.

Australia had signed a 90 billion Australian dollar ($66 billion) contract with the French government-owned naval company in 2016 to build 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines. Now it has scraped the deal and said it would instead build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines with US and British technology after striking a trilateral security partnership. France called it a stab in the back.

However, French President  has announced to hold talks with US President Joe Biden regarding the deal. No information has been given so far about when and how this conversation will take place. Nevertheless, it is feared that the French President may file a strong protest with Biden.

The alliance has been formed to counter China, while there is already an organization called ‘Quad’. The Quad includes Australia, US and Japan along with India. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has also made it clear that the objectives of the two organizations are different and the Ocus will not have any impact on the Quad.

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China, in turn, denounced a new Indo-Pacific security alliance – AUKUS – between the United States, Britain, and Australia, warning of an intensified arms race in the region.

At the same time, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar is about to start a series of bilateral meetings. It will begin with a meeting with the French Foreign Minister in New York today.

In other India news, Rajasthan Royals will take on Punjab Kings on Tuesday in the Indian Premier League that resumed after 4 months in the United Arab Emirates.

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