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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron signalled a new era of cooperation here on Tuesday, speaking about elevating the India-France relationship to a “Special Strategic Partnership”, emphasising that the relationship is built on “trust, openness, and ambition” capable of reaching from the “deep oceans to the tallest mountains”.
The talks between the high-level delegations of French and Indian, headed by French President Macron and PM Modi, were held at Lok Bhavan, the Governor’s official residence in South Mumbai resulting in a roadmap that significantly deepens defence manufacturing, technology transfer, and collaboration in emerging technologies.
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The meeting marked President Macron’s fourth official visit to India, underscoring the deepening bond between the two democratic powers.
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Addressing media persons following the bilateral talks, Prime Minister Modi unveiled a grand vision for the alliance, using the inauguration of a new helicopter facility to illustrate the scope of the partnership.
“Today, the inauguration of the helicopter assembly line in India is another shining example of this deep trust. We are proud that India and France together will manufacture in India the world’s only helicopter capable of flying to the heights of Mount Everest,” PM Modi announced. “And this will also be exported across the world. That means the India-France partnership has no boundaries. It can reach from the deep oceans to the tallest mountains.”
The Prime Minister was referring to the virtual inauguration of the Tata Airbus H125 Light Utility Helicopter Final Assembly line at Vemagal, Karnataka — a milestone in the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
A key highlight of the President Macron’s visit was France’s explicit commitment to technology transfer, a move that is expected to bolster India’s indigenous defence capabilities.
The French President stressed that the partnership goes beyond buyer-seller dynamics, focusing instead on co-development and co-production.”Whether it’s the Rafale aircraft, submarines, or the engines for fifth-generation fighter jets, there are many areas where we are working together with India. We believe in technology transfer, and we have tried to do the same, as you desired,” he stated.
The French President emphasised the shared belief in “strategic autonomy”, noting that both nations are working on a common roadmap to address global challenges “distinct from hegemony.” He further announced that India has been invited to the space sector summit in France this July, highlighting the growing convergence in space exploration and defence.
The two leaders jointly launched the ‘India-France Year of Innovation,’ an initiative aimed at transforming the strategic partnership into a “Partnership of the People”. PM Modi stated that innovation does not happen in isolation but through collaboration, outlining a plan to connect startups, MSMEs, and researchers.
“We are launching the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health, the Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology, and the National Centre of Alliance for Skilling in Aeronautics. These are not just institutes, they are future-building platforms,” the Prime Minister said.
The leaders also discussed cooperation in critical minerals, biotechnology, and advanced materials, aiming to combine “France’s expertise and India’s scale” to develop trusted technologies.
In their joint statements, both the leaders drew attention to the alignment of their geopolitical visions. PM Modi reiterated that both nations believe in democratic values, the rule of law, and a multipolar world. “We are unanimous that reform of global institutions will solve global challenges. We will continue to support all efforts for peace in every region, be it Ukraine, West Asia, or the Indo-Pacific. We share a common commitment to eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he asserted.
President Macron echoed these sentiments, describing the bilateral relationship as “truly remarkable and unique.” He cited joint initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as testaments to their shared global vision.
“The world is facing a period of uncertainty. In this environment, the India-France partnership is a force for global stability,” PM Modi added.
Beyond geopolitics, the leaders emphasised the civilisational bonds between the two nations. PM Modi announced the upcoming opening of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in France and collaboration on the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal.
“India and France are both ancient and prosperous civilisations. We attach great importance to our cultural and people-to-people ties,” the Prime Minister noted.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, the French President surprised Mumbaikars by breaking protocol to take an early morning jog at the iconic Marine Drive near the Coastal Road, accompanied by his security detail and wearing a navy blue T-shirt with black sunglasses.
PM Modi later took to social media to express his delight tweeting on X, “It’s a delight to meet my friend, President Macron, in Mumbai! He told me he really likes the city and also enjoyed his run earlier in the day!” the Prime Minister posted on X.
Later in the day, President Macron, accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron, paid solemn floral tributes to the victims of the November 2008 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, reinforcing the two nations’ shared resolve against terrorism.
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