India-France Strengthening the Special Global Strategic Partnership at AI Summit 2026

India-France relations witnessing a landmark diplomatic shift Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have officially elevated the bilateral relationship between both countries  to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership’’. Announced during President Macron’s fourth official visit to India for the AI Impact Summit 2026, the new designation signals a shared ambition to act as a "force for global good" amid an increasingly volatile international landscape. 

India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership:

India-France agreed to elevate relations to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership” to guide bilateral cooperation in the coming decades to act as a force for global good that can help build not only prosperity and resilience in their economies and advance their countries’ security and climate change issues. 

Adopted the Horizon 2047 Roadmap to set the course for the bilateral relationship up to 2047 in particular, in the areas of economic security, global issues and people to people exchanges.

Both countries have deepened collaboration in civil nuclear energy, through fruitful discussions on potential collaborations in both large capacity nuclear power plants and emerging areas such as Small Modular Reactors and Advanced Modular Reactors.

India-France jointly inaugurated the 2026 India-France Year of Innovation in Mumbai on 17 February 2026 in Mumbai, to acknowledge the importance of advancing scientific knowledge, research and innovation. This initiative marks a comprehensive roadmap for collaboration across high-tech sectors including:

• Artificial Intelligence: Building on the 2025 Paris AI Action Summit, both nations committed to "democratizing AI resources" and bridging the global digital divide.

• Digital Health: A premier research center dedicated to AI in healthcare was launched, linking AIIMS New Delhi with the Paris Brain Institute.

• Startup Ecosystems: New agreements between India’s T-Hub and Nord France Invest, alongside the "India-France Innovation Network," aim to integrate the two nations’ burgeoning tech hubs.

The First Mumbai Summit:President Emmanuel Macron has chosen Mumbai as the gateway for his state visit for the first time, On February 17, the two leaders held bilateral discussions at Lok Bhavan, focusing on:

• Year of Innovation 2026: Launching a year-long celebration of tech collaboration between Indian and French startups.

• Maritime Security: Strengthening the Indo-Pacific axis, with Mumbai serving as the symbolic naval hub.

• India-France Horizon 2047 Roadmap: Adopted the Horizon 2047 Roadmap to set the course for the bilateral relationship up to 2047 in the areas of economic security, global issues and people to people exchanges.

AI Impact Summit in New Delhi: President Macron will travel to New Delhi to participate in the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

• India AI impact summit is the first of its kind in the Global South, building on the 2025 AI Action Summit co-hosted by PM Modi and President Macron in Paris both the leadres discussed about democratizing AI resources through openness and bridging the global AI divide as important principles.

• France also contributed significantly as a co-chair of the Working Group on Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency.

Strengthening Sovereignty and Defense

Defense remains the bedrock of the partnership, moving beyond buyer-seller dynamics toward co-design and co-production.

• Aeronautics: Highlighting the "Make in India" spirit, the leaders inaugurated the H125 Final Assembly Line a private-sector helicopter manufacturing facility by Tata and Airbus. They also confirmed the contract for 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets.

• Maritime & Subsurface: Following the success of the Scorpène (Kalvari-class) submarine program, both nations pledged to continue deep-sea cooperation.

• Space & Cyber: A third session of the Strategic Space Dialogue is set for 2026, focusing on sovereign access to space and situational awareness.

• Sovereignty and Decision-making autonomy, a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. 

• Both countries also highlighted the urgent need for the reform of the United Nations Security Council.

• Highlighted the success of the made-in-India Scorpène program (P75 – Kalvari), whose 6th submarine 

India and France have elevated their bilateral relationship to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership" during President Macron's visit for the AI Impact Summit 2026. This partnership, guided by the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, aims for global good, focusing on economic security, defense cooperation, and climate issues. Key initiatives include the Year of Innovation 2026, AI in healthcare, and strengthening defense ties with projects like Rafale jets and Scorpène submarines.

Also Read: India-France Rafale Deal: India Plans to Acquire ₹3.6 Lakh Crore 114 Rafale Fighter Jets