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Macron India visit: French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron arrived in Mumbai on Monday night for a four-day state visit to India, a trip that is expected to significantly strengthen India-France strategic ties.
The high-profile engagement is being viewed as a major opportunity to expand cooperation in defence, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, trade, and Indo-Pacific security, areas that could deliver tangible economic and geopolitical benefits for both nations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold comprehensive discussions with President Macron, with both sides aiming to accelerate strategic collaboration and unlock new industrial and technological partnerships.
India-France strategic partnership set for expansion
The visit comes at a crucial time, as India and France seek to deepen cooperation across defence manufacturing, advanced technologies, and resilient supply chains. Bilateral talks are scheduled to take place at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai, where leaders are expected to review progress in key sectors and finalise nearly a dozen agreements.
These agreements are likely to span defence procurement, trade expansion, healthcare collaboration, skilling initiatives, and supply chain diversification, strengthening economic ties while enhancing strategic autonomy for both countries.
A key highlight of the visit will be the joint inauguration of the India-France Year of Innovation 2026. The initiative was announced during earlier engagements between the two leaders in Paris in 2025 and during President Macron’s previous visits to India for the 2023 G20 Summit and the 2024 Republic Day celebrations. The programme aims to boost collaboration in emerging technologies, startups, research, and digital transformation.
Defence cooperation and Rafale deal in focus
Defence cooperation remains central to the India-France partnership. France is already among India’s most reliable defence partners, having supplied Dassault Aviation-built Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene-class submarines.
India recently approved a Rs 3.25 lakh crore defence acquisition package across the armed forces, and reports suggest that 114 Rafale jets may be procured for the Indian Air Force through a government-to-government agreement.
Under the proposed framework:
- 18 Rafale aircraft are expected to be delivered directly from France.
- 96 jets may be manufactured in India under the “Make in India” initiative.
If finalised, this arrangement would significantly boost domestic defence manufacturing, technology transfer, and job creation in India, while reinforcing France’s position as a long-term strategic supplier and industrial partner.
Both sides are also expected to review outcomes of the India-France Annual Defence Dialogue 2026, which focused on expanding defence industrial cooperation and renewing the bilateral defence cooperation agreement for another decade.
Indo-Pacific, global security and emerging technologies
Beyond defence procurement, leaders are likely to exchange views on regional and global developments, including the Indo-Pacific region, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the situation in Gaza.
Cooperation in maritime and air security under the Defence Industrial Roadmap agreed in 2024 will also feature prominently. As two major Indo-Pacific stakeholders, India and France are increasingly coordinating efforts to promote stability, secure sea lanes, and uphold international law in the region.
Artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and clean energy collaboration are expected to gain renewed momentum, helping both countries diversify supply chains and reduce strategic vulnerabilities.
Warm welcome in Mumbai
President Macron and his delegation were received at Mumbai airport by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Governor Acharya Devvrat, and deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar.
In a post welcoming the French President, Fadnavis expressed optimism about the visit, describing it as an opportunity to further strengthen India-France relations and expand cooperation across multiple sectors.
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