Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to India, marking the beginning of a high-profile three-day visit aimed at deepening the India–France strategic partnership and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.
President Macron arrived in Mumbai earlier in the day at the invitation of PM Modi, with both leaders scheduled to hold extensive bilateral discussions covering defence, technology, trade, and global cooperation.
Welcoming Macron, PM Modi took to social media platform X, expressing optimism about the visit and its outcomes. He said India was delighted to host the French President and intended to give new momentum to the strategic partnership between the two countries.
“I am convinced that our discussions will further strengthen cooperation in various sectors and contribute to global progress,” Modi wrote, adding that he looked forward to meeting Macron in Mumbai and later in New Delhi.
Earlier, Macron also shared a message as he departed for India, stating that the visit aimed to take bilateral ties “even further.” He noted that he was accompanied by business leaders and representatives from economic, industrial, cultural, and digital sectors, highlighting the growing multidimensional nature of India–France relations.
Upon arrival at Mumbai airport, President Macron received a warm welcome from Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar were also present to receive the French leader, underscoring the importance attached to the visit.
Macron is scheduled to meet PM Modi at Lok Bhavan in South Mumbai at around 3:15 pm for bilateral talks. The discussions are expected to review progress made under the India–France strategic partnership and explore new avenues of collaboration, particularly in emerging sectors.
Officials indicated that the talks will concentrate on consolidating strategic cooperation while expanding engagement in innovation, advanced technology, and trade. The leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and global developments, reaffirming their shared commitment to stability and multilateral cooperation.
Following the meeting, nearly a dozen agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are likely to be signed. These agreements are expected to cover defence cooperation, trade expansion, skills development, healthcare collaboration, and resilient supply chains, reflecting a broadening of bilateral engagement beyond traditional sectors.
Defence cooperation remains a cornerstone of India–France relations. India recently approved the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France under a government-to-government framework, signalling a major boost to military ties between the two nations.
In parallel, India and France are set to hold the 6th Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru, where the existing defence cooperation agreement is expected to be renewed for another decade. The dialogue is likely to focus on strengthening collaboration in air and maritime capabilities, aligned with the ambitious Defence Industrial Roadmap agreed upon in 2024.
The visit reflects the growing convergence between India and France on strategic autonomy, Indo-Pacific security, technological innovation, and economic resilience. As both countries seek to navigate evolving global challenges, the discussions between Modi and Macron are expected to further solidify a partnership increasingly seen as one of the most stable and forward-looking bilateral relationships in contemporary geopolitics.
With agreements across defence, technology, and economic cooperation on the agenda, Macron’s visit is poised to give fresh momentum to India–France ties and reinforce their shared vision for global progress and regional stability.
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