Link to Article: https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/why-france-is-indias-best-bet-for-building-nuclear-powered-submarines/
Due to China’s expanding presence in the Indian Ocean, marked by an expanse in its deployment of submarines, and research and surveillance vessels to the region–it presents a major strategic challenge for India and its national security for the future. India’s current submarine fleet is made almost entirely up of conventional, diesel submarines, of which the Chinese fleet is all but nuclear, providing them with a clear cut advantage in range, operability, and naval capabilities in the ocean that bears India’s name. This has been marked by India making a decisive decision to approve the project for the construction of two new, modern nuclear-powered submarines to compliment its existing, small fleet of nuclear submarines, of which are entirely used for deterrence.
France has emerged as a pivotal partner in India’s defense armament, and according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Insitute, France has become the second-largest global arms exporter in the year of 2024, with India being a primary customer of said arms. This reflects an overall shift from India having relied on Russian equipment over the duration of this century, with India diversifying its defense equipments from various powers, and showing a pattern of a shift away from further Russian influence on their military. Because of this shift, it makes France an ideal collaborator for India’s new nuclear submarine projects.
I believe that the article is important to the fact that it shows a major shift by the Indian government both in modern day and over the duration of the last few decades, to further align with the West over the East, despite its apparent disdain for the western powers, most notably those in Europe, due to the colonial and imperialist rule imposed on the sub-continent fur the duration of almost two centuries. It could very well maintain India as a major regional power, further deterring the armaments of China, Bangladesh, and Pakistan in the region–and may well also provide for an excuse for Sri Lanka to bridge away from Chinese influence both politically, and economically.
As for how India and France could react, I do believe both may head down this route, where as China may infact see it as a possible threat to its overall regional dominance in the Indian Ocean for the better portion of the last few years, though whatever the outcome, I do believe India for better or for worse, will obtain more advanced, modern nuclear submarines. It’s only time that they do, and with the Sri Lankan situation unfolding as we head further into 2025, it makes it a crucial subject for their future of their national security and their maritime capabilities for years going forward.