Mumbai/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday took India-France relations to a new level, upgrading the partnership to a “Special Global Strategic
Partnership” and signing over 20 major agreements covering defence, technology, aerospace, innovation and more.
The expanded cooperation was announced during high-level bilateral talks in Mumbai, held shortly after Macron arrived for a three-day official visit. Leaders from both nations described the strengthened partnership as a key force for global stability amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.
Key agreements and cooperation areas include:
• Establishing an annual foreign ministers’ dialogue and a shared Horizon 2047 roadmap to guide future collaboration.
• Launching the India-France Year of Innovation and Innovation Network to boost joint research and startups.
• Virtually inaugurating the H125 helicopter final assembly line at Vemagal, Karnataka — a step toward deeper aerospace ties and India’s growing defence manufacturing base.
• Renewing the decade-long defence cooperation agreement between the two countries.
• A new joint venture between Bharat Electronics Ltd and Safran to produce HAMMER missiles in India.
• Reciprocal deployment of officers between Indian Army and French Land Forces.
• MoUs and cooperation agreements on AI in healthcare, digital sciences, renewable energy and critical minerals.
Addressing the media, PM Modi said the partnership with France “knows no boundaries,” underscoring cooperation from defence to innovation and export potential for jointly manufactured equipment, including the new helicopter that can operate at high altitudes.
Macron hailed the agreements as historic, noting the depth of trust and shared priorities between Paris and New Delhi. Both leaders agreed that the strengthened ties would not only benefit the two democracies but also contribute to global peace, stability and prosperity.
