French President Emmanuel Macron is set to travel to India for a three-day visit from Feb. 17 to 19. During the visit, he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on strengthening bilateral ties. The visit was confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) last week. It follows Modi's trip to France in February last year.
Among the key priorities on Macron's itinerary is attending the AI Impact Summit on Feb. 19.
“This visit follows Prime Minister Modi's visit to France in February 2025 and reflects the mutual trust and depth of the India–France Strategic Partnership, as well as the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen it further,” according to the MEA.
Macron's India Tour: What's On Agenda
During the visit, PM Modi and French President Macron will engage in comprehensive talks aimed at advancing cooperation under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, which sets out a long-term framework for ties between India and France. The leaders are also scheduled to jointly launch the India–France Year of Innovation 2026 at an event in Mumbai.
The initiative will run throughout the year in both nations, with a focus on boosting collaboration in technology, research, innovation and people-to-people links.
The initiative is intended to strengthen collaboration among startups, universities and industry, drawing on established cooperation in areas such as aerospace, defence production, climate solutions, urban transport and healthcare innovation. It underscores a shared view that innovation and people-to-people ties will form the backbone of the partnership in the long term, reported NDTV.
Also Read: India, France To Hold Key Dialogue To Boost Defence Cooperation On Feb 17
“During the visit, both leaders will hold discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas as enshrined in the Horizon 2047 Roadmap. In addition, the leaders will discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,” as per the MEA.
“The two leaders will also be in Mumbai to jointly inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation, which will be celebrated throughout 2026 in both countries. On Feb. 19, President Macron will participate in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.”
According to NDTV, defence and security ties, a longstanding cornerstone of the partnership, are set to remain a priority, while greater focus is also expected on clean energy, civilian nuclear projects, space cooperation and advanced technologies. Discussions will extend to regional and global developments, with particular attention on the Indo-Pacific amid shared concerns over stability, maritime safety and adherence to international norms.
The visit by the French president comes as India seeks to broaden its defence partnerships and reduce reliance on traditional arms suppliers, reported Bloomberg.
New Delhi cleared defence procurements worth around $40 billion last week, including fighter aircraft and missile systems sourced from France. The proposed acquisitions, among the most significant upgrades to India's air combat capability in recent years, feature Rafale jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation SA, along with a large consignment of long-range cruise missiles.
Macron's appearance at India's AI Impact Summit underlines the growing alignment between India and France on artificial intelligence governance, with both nations championing a model that balances innovation with ethical, security and societal safeguards.
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