Trilateral Framework: India, France And UAE Unveil Cooperation Plan

The Indian EAM S. Jaishankar & his counterparts of France & UAE have announced a trilateral framework plan to corporate for defense, energy, and climate projects.

On Saturday, India, France, and the United Arab Emirates established an ambitious road map for trilateral cooperation in defense, energy, and technology.

During a telephone discussion, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his colleagues from France and the United Arab Emirates, Catherine Colonna and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, respectively, finalized the proposal.

It was stated in a joint statement that defense is a sector of close collaboration amongst the three countries. 

“Efforts will be made to further enhance compatibility, as well as collaborative development and co-production, and to explore options for increased coordination and training between the defense forces of the three nations,” the document stated.

The three foreign ministers met for the first time in a trilateral format on September 19, 2022, in New York, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.

Trilateral Framework For Defense & Energy Source Projects

The ministers of India, France, and the UAE agreed at the conference to launch an official trilateral cooperation effort with the goal of expanding cooperation in many domains of common interest. 

It is in this aspect that a strategic plan for the initiative’s implementation should be adopted.

According to the statement, the three entities made an agreement that the trilateral initiative will function as a forum to endorse the design and implementation of joint projects in the fields of energy, with an emphasis on solar and nuclear energy, as well as climate change and biodiversity protection, particularly in the Indian Ocean region.

The three countries will look into collaborating with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on actual, actionable projects related to clean energy, the environment, and biodiversity.

In support of the efforts, a series of trilateral events will be held during India’s G20 presidency and the UAE’s hosting of COP-28 in 2023, respectively.

They agreed to strengthen collaboration in food security and the circular economy, and to prioritize crucial concerns such as combating single-use plastic pollution and desertification.

According to the statement, the trilateral action plan will serve as a platform to expand cooperation between the three countries’ development agencies on sustainable projects, as well as to ensure greater integration of their respective economic, technological, and social policies with the goals of the Paris climate agreement.

The three countries also agreed to increase their cooperation through projects such as the UAE-led Mangrove Alliance for Climate and India-led Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership.

The three parties also expressed a strong desire to collaborate in the sector of the circular economy under the auspices of India’s Mission LiFE, according to the statement.

The three countries will attempt to expand exchanges of views on new dangers from infectious diseases, as well as strategies to combat future pandemics, according to the statement. 

In this context, collaboration in international organizations like the WHO, the Global Fund, Gavi-the Vaccine Alliance, and Unitaid will be urged.

Furthermore, the three countries will seek real cooperation in the implementation of the ‘One Health’ strategy, as well as assist the development of local resources in biomedical research and production within developing nations.

Aim & Vision of Trilateral Framework Among India, France & UAE

The trilateral framework initiative will serve as a platform to promote the plan and execution of collaborative projects in the fields of energy (solar energy, renewable energy & nuclear energy).

The initiative aims to play a major role in fighting towards climate action. It will help to protect the biodiversity in the Indian Ocean region as well as other regions. It will also strengthen the international relationships among India, France and UAE.