India and France Launch Special Global Strategic Partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new "Special Global Strategic Partnership" during talks in Mumbai. Speaking at Lok Bhavan alongside Macron, Modi described the alliance as vital for global stability and prosperity in uncertain times. He highlighted France as one of India's oldest strategic partners, with uniquely strong ties.

The leaders remotely inaugurated a H-125 helicopter final assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka, built by Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus. India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and France's Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, Catherine Vautrin, attended the event. Modi praised the facility as a testament to their deep bonds, predicting the India-made helicopters—capable of reaching Mt. Everest's heights—would soon export worldwide.

Modi emphasized the partnership's boundless scope, spanning oceans to mountains. He called 2026 a pivotal year for Indo-European relations, boosted by a new Free Trade Agreement and a double taxation elimination pact—dubbed the "Roadmap of Shared Prosperity"—to spur trade, investment, and mobility. The duo also launched the India-France Year of Innovation, transforming their strategic ties into a "Partnership of People" focused on defence, clean energy, space, emerging tech, critical minerals, biotech, and advanced materials.

Macron stressed that India-France relations rest on trust, openness, and shared goals, positioning France as India's reliable ally. He pointed to aligned visions in space, aeronautics, railways, solar energy, infrastructure, creative industries, and tech. With India leading BRICS and France chairing the G7 this year, Macron welcomed the India-EU FTA and underscored their joint global outlook. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and delegations from both nations were present.

The leaders later opened the India-France Innovation Forum in Mumbai. Modi framed the Innovation Year as a commitment to lead through ingenuity, noting France's goal to host 30,000 Indian students by 2030. He urged combining India's speed with France's expertise to forge global pathways, inviting investors to build tech-driven, inclusive progress in this landmark year.

Macron added that the nations now exchange ideas, not just goods. He unveiled incentives for Indian tech talent and startups to partner with French firms, especially in green tech and space. Business leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators attended.

Earlier, Modi and Macron held bilateral talks at Lok Bhavan on defence, security, trade, and culture. Macron honored 26/11 Mumbai attack victims at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, pledging France's anti-terror solidarity via social media and vowing support for victims' families. He also met Indian film stars to celebrate cultural links.

Macron's three-day visit, at Modi's invitation, began early in Mumbai for the AI Impact Summit.