India, France, and Australia held talks for the first time under a trilateral framework on Wednesday. The virtual meeting, which was co-chaired by Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Secretary-General Francois Delattre from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Australian foreign affairs and trade secretary Frances Adamson, focused on enhancing cooperation among the three sides in the Indo-Pacific.
According to an official statement released by New Delhi, the countries discussed the economic and geopolitical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities for collaboration on these fronts. “The three countries also had an exchange on the priorities, challenges, and trends in regional and global multilateral institutions, including the best ways to strengthen and reform multilateralism,” the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said.
Given that the Indo-Pacific is increasingly witnessing Chinese aggression and assertiveness, the nations also discussed potential areas for practical partnership in the maritime domain and in promoting global commons at the trilateral and regional levels, including through regional organizations such as the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean Commission. India has already elevated its bilateral relationship with Australia to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), having signed nine agreements with Canberra in June that related to strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific. These declarations are intended to counter a rising Chinese threat and presence, not only in the South China Sea, but also along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China. Through such actions, India has repeatedly signaled its alignment with the “Quad” of Australia, the United States (US), and Japan in maintaining a “rules-based order” in the Indo-Pacific.
The French ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain, said in a tweet afterward that the talks were an important step forward for the nations to uphold their common values and interests, and in “boosting cooperation for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific”. The MEA said that the countries have agreed to hold the dialogue annually.
For the first time, France, India and Australia today held trilateral talks on boosting cooperation for a free, open and inclusive Indopacific.
— Emmanuel Lenain (@FranceinIndia) September 9, 2020
Together we will uphold our values and interests!@francediplo_EN @harshvshringla @MEAIndia @dfat @AusHCIndia https://t.co/jPuaLnCUAL