US embassy cable - 05PARIS2270

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002270 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MASS, IN, AF, PK, FR 
SUBJECT: FRENCH VIEWS ON NEW U.S. SOUTH ASIA STRATEGY 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 55644 
 
     B. PARIS 02135 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso 
ns 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
On April 4 poloff spoke with India desk officer, Louis Vassy, 
who said that he had met with MFA DAS-level director of South 
Asia bureau, Anne Grillo-Nebout, to discuss U.S. plans to 
broaden its strategic partnership with South Asia as outlined 
in reftel A.  Vassy said that the GOF had anticipated that 
the U.S. would eventually sell F-16s to Pakistan; therefore, 
he explained, reftel points concerning Pakistan came "as no 
surprise;" though, he added, he was curious as to how Indian 
officials reacted to the news.  He explained that, in 
contrast to the U.S. approach of balanced relationships with 
both India and Pakistan, the GOF has focused its attention 
primarily on its relations with India.  Because of this, he 
said, the GOF is chiefly interested in how the U.S. will work 
to strengthen its commercial and political ties with New 
Delhi.  Vassy said that France made special note of U.S. 
plans to foster dialogue aimed at expanding high technology 
cooperation and promoting nuclear safety.  He said that 
France is interested in knowing Washington's thoughts on how 
to expand nuclear cooperation with India in light of NPT 
restrictions.  He indicated that France would like to do the 
same but that the international framework does not provide 
much room to maneuver, adding that France would welcome 
dialogue between Paris and Washington on this subject.  He 
said that France also made note of U.S. plans to allow 
companies to participate in the bidding process for India's 
purchase of Multi-Role Combat Aircraft and predicted that 
there would be several bidders for the contract. 
LEACH