NEW DELHI (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened in Mumbai on Tuesday for comprehensive bilateral discussions focused on enhancing economic and strategic cooperation. The high-level meeting emphasized the growing significance of the Indo-French alliance as both nations navigate evolving global dynamics and geopolitical realignments.
The partnership, which has expanded across multiple sectors including defense, trade, technology, and energy, positions France as one of India’s most dependable European allies. During a joint press briefing, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the boundless nature of the India-France relationship, stating, “In today’s era of uncertainties, this partnership is a force for global stability and progress.”
The leaders virtually inaugurated a final assembly line for H125 helicopter production, a collaborative venture between India’s Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus. Located in Karnataka, this facility represents India’s first private-sector helicopter manufacturing plant.
President Macron characterized the Franco-Indian relationship as entering an “acceleration phase” in response to international changes, noting their “special global strategic partnership” that brings new ambitions to bilateral ties. He identified space exploration, nuclear energy, rare earth minerals, aeronautics, and high-speed rail as priority sectors for collaboration while advocating for a free-trade agreement between India and the European Union.
The discussions extended to global security concerns, with Macron urging India to collaborate on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine and inviting Modi to June’s G7 summit in Evian. Macron specifically called for “an immediate and lasting moratorium on strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure” while acknowledging the challenges in achieving a ceasefire.
Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution in both Western Asia and Eastern Europe, though he avoided direct reference to Ukraine.
The economic dimension of the partnership has shown substantial growth, with bilateral trade exceeding $15 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2025, making France India’s third-largest EU trading partner. French investments in Indian manufacturing, energy, defense, and infrastructure have deepened steadily.
Defense cooperation remains central to the relationship, evidenced by last week’s preliminary approval from an Indian government panel for a $40 billion military equipment purchase that includes 114 Rafale fighter jets from France. This acquisition supports India’s strategic priority of maintaining air power amid persistent security challenges along its borders with nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and China. India already operates two Rafale squadrons and recently purchased 26 marine variants for its navy.