France has made such an offer to India, which can provoke China once again. In fact, France has offered a nuclear submarine deal to India. The offer comes at a time when the Indian Navy is already in the process of modernisation. If the deal with France gets finalised, it will be a big booster for the Indian Navy.
According to a Firstpost report, under the deal, France will work with India to develop 6 nuclear submarines. France has also offered to share conventional technology from its Barracuda-class submarine program. Explain that the Barracuda-class submarine is a submarine capable of nuclear attack. It has been designed by French shipbuilder Naval Group for the French Navy. France’s offer to India is similar to the deal it had earlier offered to Brazil. Brazil is now developing its first nuclear submarine with French assistance.
Why a big blow to China?
Recently, the US, Australia and Britain (AUKUS) announced a nuclear-powered submarine agreement, which aims to counter China’s aggressive attitude in the Indo-Pacific region. Now France has made a similar offer to India. China is trying to increase its power in the Indian Ocean. In such a situation, India and France can work together to respond to the aggression of the dragon. Both India and Australia are in line to acquire nuclear submarines for their respective navies. In such a situation, it may be difficult for China to maintain its dominance in the Indo-Pacific region in the future.
There will be a big boost for self-reliant India
If the Indian Navy approves of the French proposal, it will be a major achievement for the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Make in India) initiative of the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India has launched ‘Project 75 Alpha’ as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Under this programme, the Indian Navy aims to procure six nuclear-powered submarines. The Government of India approved the project in February 2015.
China is furious over AUKUS deal
Aucus came into existence in 2021 and includes Australia, UK and US. The purpose of the OCUS is to deal with China’s aggressive attitude in the Indo-Pacific. The submarine agreement is a part of the security pact between these three countries. “The US will sell three Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the early 2030s, if needed, with the support and approval of Congress,” US President Joe Biden said in San Diego with Australian Prime Minister Albanese and British Prime Minister Sunak. Will sell two more submarines…”
Biden said that ‘SSN-AUKUS’ will be a state-of-the-art platform, designed to take best advantage of submarine technology from the three countries. ‘SSN-AUKUS’ will be based on the UK’s next generation SSN design, incorporating state-of-the-art US submarine technologies and will be built and deployed by both Australia and the UK. SSN stands for Nuclear Powered Submarine and AUKUS stands for Indo-Pacific Security Agreement between Australia, UK and US.
‘Aucus’ on dangerous path, submarine deal violates NPT: China
China has condemned the nuclear-powered submarine deal announced by the US, UK and Australia, saying the deal violates the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the three countries are “going down a dangerous and wrong path”. Responding, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference that the three countries’ efforts to advance cooperation on nuclear submarines and other cutting-edge military technology under the AUCUS treaty had a “Cold War mentality”, Which will promote arms race and harm regional peace and stability.
