Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has arrived in Paris for the India-France Foreign Office Consultations. This visit follows French President Emmanuel Macron’s trip to India in February 2026, highlighting the ongoing high-level exchanges between India and Europe. Misri will co-chair the consultations with Martin Briens, the Secretary General of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, covering various topics such as defense, civil nuclear energy, space, cyber, Artificial Intelligence, innovation, and people-to-people exchanges.
Misri is also scheduled to meet with other dignitaries and government officials during his time in France. Following his engagements in France, he will head to Germany for further Foreign Office Consultations with Geza Andreas von Geyr, the State Secretary of the German Foreign Office. This visit aims to strengthen India’s bilateral relations with both countries and enhance cooperation across key priority areas, building on the recent high-level exchanges between India and Europe.
The India-France relationship was recently elevated to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Macron. This partnership focuses on defense, technology, and health, aligning with the Horizon 2047 vision. The leaders inaugurated India’s first private helicopter Final Assembly Line in Karnataka, marking progress in defense manufacturing and self-reliance initiatives. Additionally, a joint venture between Bharat Electronics and France’s Safran was established to produce precision-guided missiles in India.
Both countries also renewed their Agreement on Defense Cooperation, ensuring continued collaboration between the Indian Army and French Land Forces. The India-France Year of Innovation 2026 was officially launched during this visit, emphasizing the importance of the relationship in promoting global stability in an increasingly uncertain world.
