EditMacron’s India visit: a milestone in geopolitical alignment, defence, and technological collaboration
A "Special Global Strategic Partnership" emphasises shared commitments to strategic autonomy, multipolarity, and resistance to hegemony
French President Emmanuel Macron’s three-day visit to India from 17 to 19 February marked a significant escalation in bilateral relations between the two nations. Arriving in Mumbai, Macron met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss a wide array of issues, culminating in the elevation of their ties to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership.” This upgrade reflects the deepening trust and cooperation amid a turbulent global landscape.
The visit, Macron’s fourth to India since 2018, coincided with the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, emphasizing shared ambitions in defence, technology, and strategic autonomy.
Geopolitical dimensions: navigating a changing world order
The geopolitical backdrop of Macron’s visit underscores France and India’s efforts to foster multipolarity in an era marked by U.S. protectionism under President Donald Trump, China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific, and ongoing conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war.
Macron hailed the “remarkable acceleration” of France-India ties as a response to the “changing international order,” stressing the need to avoid “any form of hegemony” or conflicts driven by a few powers.
Both leaders emphasized shared values such as the rule of law, counter-terrorism, and strategic autonomy, with Modi noting that the partnership would provide “stability and progress” in unpredictable global dynamics.
India’s push to diversify its defence procurement away from Russia – amid Western sanctions – aligns with France’s role as a key supplier, bolstering New Delhi’s capabilities against regional threats from China and Pakistan.
Bilateral trade stands at approximately €15 billion annually, with French foreign direct investment in India nearing €13 billion, further cementing economic interdependence.
Discussions also touched on Indo-Pacific security, critical minerals, nuclear energy (including small modular reactors at Jaitapur), and space cooperation, positioning the duo as pivotal players in global supply chains and security architectures.
Notably, India’s neutral stance on Russia was addressed, with unconfirmed reports of commitments to halt Russian oil imports, highlighting the delicate balance in their strategic dialogue.
The Rafale deal: bolstering India’s defence posture
A centerpiece of the visit was the advancement of a massive defence deal for 114 additional Dassault Rafale multirole fighter jets for the Indian Air Force, valued at up to $35-40 billion.
This “historic” agreement, as described by the French presidency, follows India’s initial clearance by the Defence Acquisition Council on 12 February, and builds on previous acquisitions: 36 Rafales for the IAF in 2016 and 26 Rafale-Marine variants for the Navy in 2025.
The majority of the new jets will be manufactured in India, aligning with the “Make in India” initiative, with negotiations emphasizing up to 50% indigenous content and local maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities for engines.
Beyond Rafales, the visit saw progress on submarine projects, potentially including additional Scorpene-class vessels, and a joint venture between Bharat Electronics Limited and Safran for Hammer missile production in India.
Leaders also agreed on reciprocal military officer deployments and a Joint Advanced Technology Development Group for emerging defence technologies.
Additionally, Modi and Macron virtually inaugurated a Tata-Airbus final assembly line for H125 helicopters in Karnataka, expected to create over 1,000 jobs and enable exports to South Asia, with the first “Made in India” unit deliverable in early 2027.
These deals not only enhance India’s military modernization but also deepen industrial ties, with France viewing the Rafale contract as the “contract of the century.”
IT and AI partnerships: forging a digital future
The visit placed strong emphasis on information technology and artificial intelligence, with Macron attending the AI Impact Summit 2026, where he praised India’s digital infrastructure, or “India Stack,” as something “no other country in the world has built.”
Highlighting Aadhaar’s 1.4 billion digital identities, UPI’s 20 billion monthly transactions, and 500 million digital health IDs, Macron underscored the “open, interoperable, and sovereign” nature of India’s model.
He noted AI’s role as a “field of strategic competition” but advocated for innovation focused on “welfare for all,” including sovereign choices like India’s development of task-specific language models and deployment of 38,000 government-funded GPUs for startups.
Key outcomes included the launch of the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 and the India-France Innovation Network.
The leaders inaugurated the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS New Delhi and the Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology.
Additional initiatives encompass a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics, centers for metabolic health sciences, and a Letter of Intent between India’s T-Hub and France’s Nord France for startup ecosystems.
These 21 agreements across tech, startups, advanced materials, health, and skilling aim to foster collaborative R&D and talent exchange, positioning both nations as leaders in ethical AI and digital governance.
Looking ahead: a partnership for global stability
Macron’s 2026 visit cements France and India’s roles as strategic anchors in a multipolar world, with tangible advancements in defence and technology. As Modi stated, this alliance spans “from deep oceans to tallest mountains,” offering a blueprint for resilient partnerships amid geopolitical shifts.
With the Horizon 2047 roadmap guiding future collaborations, the Special Global Strategic Partnership promises enhanced security, innovation, and economic growth for both nations.
From a French perspective, Macron’s India visit appears to have attained its objective, as Paris seeks reliable global allies amid fraying transatlantic ties under renewed U.S. protectionism and strained EU-U.S. relations. From an Indian perspective, Macron’s visit has been viewed as a resounding success, reinforcing New Delhi’s pursuit of strategic autonomy and multipolar partnerships.
Caption: A handout photo made available by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) shows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron (L) prior to their meeting in Mumbai, India, 17 February 2026. President Macron started his three-day visit to India focused on artificial intelligence cooperation as India is hosting AI Impact summit 2026 from 16 February to 20 February 2026 in New Delhi. EPA/PRESS INFORMATON BUREAU / HANDOUT
Updated: February 19, 2026 - 11:09
