New Delhi/Mumbai, Feb 18: India and France on Tuesday elevated their relations to a “special global strategic partnership” and vowed to boost cooperation in key sectors of defence, trade and critical minerals with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron describing the bilateral ties as a “force for global stability” in the face of increasing geopolitical turbulence.
The two leaders, following their talks in Mumbai, also virtually inaugurated an assembly line in Karnataka’s Vemagal to build Airbus H125 helicopters that is expected to enhance India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
The two sides inked a total of 21 agreements and documents providing for deepening of cooperation in an array of areas including critical minerals, defence, high technology, renewable energy, and health.
The pacts included one on defence cooperation and another on a joint venture between Bharat Electronics Ltd and French defence giant Safran to produce Hammer missiles in India. A separate pact was inked for reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments.
The Modi-Macron discussions largely touched on a range of issues including cooperation in defence and security, trade and investment, joint manufacturing, critical minerals supply chain, research and development, and education, among others.
The prime minister hosted Macron for the talks hours after the French leader landed in Mumbai on a three-day India visit.
“The world is going through a period of uncertainty. In such an environment, the India-France partnership is a force for global stability. We are combining France’s expertise and India’s scale,” Modi said in his media statement.
The prime minister said the two countries share a “very special relationship” and that France is one of India’s oldest strategic partners.
“And together with President Macron, we have given this strategic partnership unprecedented depth and energy. Based on this trust and shared vision, today we are establishing our relationship as a ‘special global strategic partnership’,” Modi said.
“This partnership is not just strategic. In today’s turbulent era, it is a partnership of global stability and global progress,” he said.
Modi also made a reference to the H125 helicopter assembly line.
“Today’s inauguration of the helicopter assembly line in India is another shining example of this deep trust. We are proud that India and France will jointly manufacture the world’s only helicopter capable of flying to the heights of Mount Everest. And we will also export it to the entire world,” he said.
“In other words, the India-France partnership knows no boundaries; it can reach from deep oceans to the tallest mountain,” Modi noted.
The prime minister, referring to Russia-Ukraine conflict, situation in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific, said both India and France believe in democratic values, the rule of law, and a multipolar world.
“We agree that reform of global institutions will provide solutions to global challenges. Whether in Ukraine, West Asia, or the Indo-Pacific, we will continue to support all efforts for peace in every region,” he said.
“It is our shared commitment to eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” Modi said.
The prime minister also noted that the year 2026 is a “turning point” in India-Europe relations as he cited the India-EU free trade deal.
“Just a few days ago, we signed the largest and most ambitious free trade agreement in India’s history with the European Union. This free trade agreement will also bring unprecedented momentum to India-France relations,” he said.
“To promote mutual investment, we are signing an agreement today so that our people and companies do not have to pay double taxes. All these initiatives will give new impetus to mutual trade, investment, and mobility. And this is the roadmap to shared prosperity,” he said.
The two sides also launched an initiative titled ‘India-France Year of Innovation’.
“With the launch of the India-France Year of Innovation, we are now going to transform our strategic partnership into a partnership of the people. Because innovation happens not in isolation, but through collaboration,” Modi said.
In his remarks, Macron said India is one of France’s most trusted partners.
“From Rafale jets to submarines, we are expanding defence cooperation,” he said.
Both our countries firmly believe in rule of law, and it has been demonstrated in past few years, he noted.
Macron said India and France will continue to cooperate to combat terrorism.
The French president talked about a common roadmap to tackle global challenges including from hegemonic forces and that India and France are two such countries which can contribute a lot to the world.
In his media statement, Modi said India and France are developing trusted technologies.
“We will ensure human development through the International Solar Alliance, the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and joint development projects,” he said.
“We will continue to strengthen efforts for stability and prosperity through multilateralism, dialogue, and diplomacy,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron later inaugurated the ‘India-France Year of Innovation’.
Hours after announcing to elevate the decades-old ties to a “special strategic partnership”, the two leaders attended the event where New Delhi and Paris affirmed their commitment to innovation.
“The India-France year of innovation 2026 will further strengthen’¦strategic alignment and shared prosperity,” as per a video played at the event.
Special events will be held across cities in both countries, focusing on science, technology and innovation, and bringing together startups, academia and creators.
The year will promote industrial collaboration and people-to-people connect, as per a video posted by the PMO India’s Youtube channel posted after the closed-door event.
The two countries also announced the ‘Indo-French innovation network’, a digital platform backed by the government and led by industry, which is billed by innovators for innovators, as per the video.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Tata Chemicals’ managing director and chief executive R Mukundan, Maharashtra’s secretary for industries, P Anabalagan were seen at the event.
President Macron is on an official visit to India from February 17 to 19 at the invitation of PM Modi to participate in the AI Impact Summit hosted by India, as well as hold a bilateral summit with the latter in Mumbai.
