PM Modi Welcomes Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai; AI Partnership and ₹3.6 Lakh Crore Rafale Deal in Focus
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in India late Monday night for a crucial three-day visit aimed at strengthening India-France strategic ties, with discussions expected around artificial intelligence cooperation and a major Rafale fighter jet deal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed Macron after he landed in Mumbai around midnight, marking the beginning of high-level diplomatic engagements that will continue in New Delhi.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi extended a warm greeting to the French leader.
“See you in Mumbai and later in Delhi, my dear friend @EmmanuelMacron,” Modi wrote, expressing confidence that the discussions would deepen cooperation across multiple sectors and contribute to global progress.
Macron had earlier shared a picture from his flight, posting:
“En route to India! Three days from Mumbai to New Delhi to take our strategic partnership even further.”
He emphasized his commitment to expanding bilateral ties and arrived with a delegation of business leaders and representatives from economic, industrial, cultural, and digital sectors.
India-France Talks to Focus on AI and Strategic Cooperation
One of the key discussion points during the visit is expected to be artificial intelligence collaboration, especially in light of the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. Macron is likely to attend and participate in the summit events scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
The leaders are also expected to explore opportunities to strengthen digital innovation, technology partnerships, and global AI governance frameworks.
₹3.60 Lakh Crore Rafale Fighter Jet Deal Gains Momentum
Defence cooperation is set to take center stage, with talks surrounding a potential multibillion-dollar deal involving Dassault Aviation for Rafale fighter jets.
The proposed agreement includes the procurement of 114 additional Rafale jets, with a significant portion expected to be manufactured in India under the government’s defence production push.
Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the proposal, reportedly valued at ₹3.60 lakh crore. The deal marks one of India’s largest defence procurements in recent years.
The growing military collaboration reflects the broader expansion of India-France strategic ties, especially in defence, aerospace, and security cooperation.
Strengthening India-France Strategic Partnership
The visit also comes after the signing of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement in January, further enhancing economic and trade cooperation between New Delhi and European partners.
With discussions spanning AI, defence manufacturing, trade, and digital collaboration, Macron’s visit is expected to significantly boost the long-standing Indo-French strategic partnership.
As both leaders prepare for meetings in Mumbai and New Delhi, the visit signals a deepening of ties between the two nations at a time of shifting global alliances and rapid technological advancement.
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