Why India-France didn't announce Rafale, Scorpene deals in joint statement
What's the story
Negotiations between India and France regarding the technical and commercial aspects of India's plans to buy 26 Rafale-M jets and three Scorpene-class submarines for the Indian Navy are yet to be completed, reports said. The reports came days after the new deals didn't find any mention in the Horizon 2047 document, which marked the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between India and France.
Context
Why does this story matter?
India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the acquisition proposal on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France last week. The Horizon 2047 document initially acknowledged the agreement for the submarines under the Project-75 (India) program. However, an updated version of the document on the website of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) doesn't have the portion of text referring to the deal.
Details
Rafale deal to be completed before 25 years: Officials
Citing sources, NDTV reported that the Rafale-M deal didn't figure in the Horizon 2047 document as it is a roadmap for the next 25 years, while the deal would have been completed long before that. Meanwhile, the contract for the Scorpene-class submarines was yet to be finalized as the price and the date of delivery needed to be fixed, sources told the publication.
Quote
Defense partnerships not defined by single transaction: Foreign secretary
"The 2047 Horizon document looks at security and sovereignty in a more holistic and comprehensive manner rather than as a set of individual transactions," Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said when asked for clarification. "The metrics of defense partnerships are not defined by...single transaction," he added.
Information
Defence minister, Dassault Aviation acknowledged deal's approval
Notably, after the DAC approved the deal, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted about it on Thursday. The Rafale aircraft's maker, Dassault Aviation, also issued a statement confirming the Indian government chose its fighter jets for the Indian Navy over the American F/A-18 Super Hornet jets.
Probe
India's first Rafale purchase under French government's scanner
This would be India's second purchase of Rafale jets. India's first purchase of 36 Rafale jets in 2015-16 has been mired in controversy as the French government is investigating Dassault Aviation for allegedly bribing middlemen for the aircraft's sale in India. The Indian government waived crucial provisions related to anti-corruption penalties days before the 2015-16 deal was signed, The Hindu reported earlier.