India, France to collaborate in Red Sea region

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron met to coordinate their efforts to uphold freedom of navigation in the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial shipping liners that have disrupted trade and raised prices.

At their summit in Jaipur on Thursday night, the two leaders voiced great worry about the likelihood of expansion of the Israel-Hamas war, notably in the Red Sea, which already has a major economic impact.

They stressed the importance of Red Sea freedom of navigation and international maritime law. According to the joint statement issued during Macron's state visit, they held a lengthy chat to coordinate their efforts in that region.


This was Modi's first detailed conversation with any Western leader on the current West Asian crisis. It may be recalled that neither India nor France has joined the US-led efforts to counter threats in the Red Sea region.

Both Modi-Macron strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October and expressed solidarity with the people of Israel. They equally condemned the huge loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict and emphasised the need to respect international humanitarian law and to create conditions, including through a humanitarian ceasefire, for aid to flow to the affected population in the Gaza region. Both leaders also called for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, according to the Joint Statement.

The two leaders reaffirmed that a political process leading to a two-state solution for the Israeli and Palestinian people is required for lasting peace and stability in the region.