Get trans-Atlantic ducks in a row

A new, informal trans-Atlantic alliance is taking shape. It is building on India's bilateral ties with the US on end of the pond, and with France on the other. With every interaction, a new iteration of this partnership comes into focus. The bookended bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit with the two democracies provides a glimpse into this entente cordiale. This is a second bilateral engagement with both countries in the space of less than three months. Underpinning these interactions is the growing acceptance that risks of fragmentation worldwide can be mitigated with dialogue and deeper engagement with emerging economies without disadvantaging any country.

The need for closer and diverse ties with emerging economies is a clear lesson of the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The emerging picture of these partnerships essays a new version of globalisation, one that is rooted in mutual economic and development benefits with a footprint of global benefits, and that isn't along increasingly outdated notions of 'East-West'.

We see increased engagement in the realms of space, nuclear energy, digital public infrastructure, critical technology, climate change and education. The India-US partnership in global semiconductor supply chains and India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology are examples. The other prong is a partnership in other regions, such as the US decision to co-lead the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Pillar on Trade Connectivity and Maritime Transport, and India-France partnership in the Indo-Pacific and Africa. Ensuring a rules-based order that leaves no one behind while protecting open global systems is the bedrock of this nascent alliance.