Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after meeting President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai, hailed the India-France relationship as a key stabilizing force globally. He highlighted the transition from traditional diplomacy to a “Partnership of the People,” with a focus on the India-France Year of Innovation 2026. Modi emphasized the partnership as a crucial pillar for peace, calling France an essential ally in the Indian Ocean region.
The India-France Year of Innovation 2026 was underscored by Modi as central to their joint roadmap. He stressed the importance of collaboration in innovation, aiming to connect Indian and French startups, MSMEs, and research centers to address global challenges in clean energy and digital health. Strategic Autonomy was a key theme in Modi’s address, citing the Airbus H125 helicopter assembly line in India as a prime example of the “Make in India, Make for the World” initiative.
The leaders also discussed the Horizon 2047 roadmap, focusing on collaborative military hardware production, including the HAMMER precision-guided missiles and the significant 114 Rafale fighter jet project. The AI Impact Summit 2026 coinciding with the meeting highlighted a mutual commitment to developing “sovereign AI” for the benefit of the Global South. Modi emphasized the evolution of the partnership from Marseille to Mumbai, translating shared AI visions into tangible industrial outcomes.
Addressing global conflicts, Modi stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy concerning the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Gaza situation, noting a philosophical alignment between India and France on these issues.
