In a watershed moment for Indo-European relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have signed a “Special Global Strategic Partnership” that formally deepens bilateral relations. This announcement took place during President Macron’s three-day official visit (February 17–19, 2026) where the two countries concluded more than 20 arrangements ranging from high-tech weaponry to cutting-edge artificial intelligence.
Defense: “Make in India” Takes Flight
The visit featured a firm stance on defense industrial autonomy. Key highlights include:
- Joint venture to manufacture HAMMER missile (HAMMER Missile JV): A major JV agreement has been entered into between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defense in India to manufacture the precision-guided missiles (HAMMER) that are of a Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range type.
- H125 Helicopter Assembly: The leaders virtually inaugurated the H125 Final Assembly Line in Vemagal, Karnataka. This Airbus-Tata joint venture is the first private-sector helicopter manufacturing facility in India, designing aircraft that can reach the upper part of Mount Everest for export on the world’s scale.
- Rafale & Engine MRO: Discussions had moved forward on an additional 114 Rafale fighter jets, including MRO facilities for LEAP and M-88 engines in India.
AI and Innovation: A Guide to Research and Innovation for the Future
In New Delhi, as PM Modi joined President Macron for the India AI Impact Summit 2026, interest turned again to digital sovereignty. The leaders launched the “India-France Year of Innovation 2026,” which launched several “future-building platforms”:
Indo-French Centre for AI in Health: A bespoke hub to harness AI for improved medical diagnostics and public health.
Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology: Focus on co-developing transparent and trustworthy algorithms.
National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics: Aimed at training the next generation of Indian aerospace engineers.
Strategic Autonomy Amid a Turbulent World
PM Modi said in a joint statement at a ceremony in Mumbai's Lok Bhavan that the partnership "knows no boundaries" stretching from "deep oceans to the tallest mountains." Macron reflected this with his view that France and India are creating a "model for the world" that rejects global domination and emphasizes rule-based order.
In addition to defense and tech, the visit produced an annual Foreign Ministers' Comprehensive Dialogue on the "Horizon 2047 Roadmap" and a landmark agreement on the mutual deployment of officers between the Indian Army and French Land Forces.
