India and France established diplomatic relations in 1947, soon after India’s independence. Delhi-Paris flight of dreams, The strategic partnership with France, launched in 1998, was India’s first with a Western country and France’s first outside the European Union. This strategic partnership reflected both countries’ vision of enhancing their strategic autonomy through strong bilateral cooperation. Defense and security, civil nuclear matters, and space were key pillars of this strategic cooperation. This partnership has now expanded significantly.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in Mumbai that they would elevate their relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership. Both countries have now become a force capable of transforming the global order. Their friendship has expanded from the depths of the oceans to the heights of the skies. India and France have signed 21 agreements, ranging from the Rafale deal to submarine construction. Macron’s visit is not limited to simply enhancing mutual relations.
This reflects India’s pursuit of what might be called a “multipolar West.” Europe is no longer seen merely as an ally of Washington or a passive player in the US-China rivalry arena. It is a significant global power in its own right, contributing to India’s economic and technological transformation, as well as enabling Delhi to broaden its strategy abroad. It is important to remember that France was one of the earliest proponents of political activism in favor of a “multipolar world,” long before Russia and China made it a central theme of their diplomacy.
Paris has also consistently advocated for European “strategic autonomy.” This shared terminology has created a degree of comfort between Delhi and Paris. The defense collaboration between India and France has been the most successful model to date. The joint statement emphasized that cooperation will no longer be limited to purchases and sales. The focus will now be on co-design, co-development, and co-production. The biggest news is that the two countries have collaborated extensively on jet engines and helicopter engines. With the confirmation of the contract for 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets, talks have now moved forward to manufacture fighter aircraft engines as well.
Safran Group and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will jointly develop engines for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter. Furthermore, a maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility for the M-88 engines used in Rafale aircraft will be established in India. Tata and Airbus have jointly commissioned the H-125 final assembly line under the “Make in India” initiative. This is India’s first such private-sector helicopter manufacturing facility. Further building on the success of the Scorpene submarine program, an agreement has also been reached to build new submarines.
France has also shown keen interest in India’s Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher. This means that in the future, Indian weapons could also become a strength of the French army. Although US President Donald Trump keeps putting pressure on France and other European countries and wants to establish his dominance over the Western world, the partnership between Delhi and Paris is not about opposing America but about finding a new path. This indicates a change in France’s geopolitical thinking. Emmanuel Macron also participated in the ongoing AI Global Summit in Delhi. Till now, America and China dominate AI.
Amidst the US corporate sector and China’s power control, India and France want to develop an AI framework that encourages innovation while protecting sovereignty. India has significant potential to work with Europe and other countries in AI. This is why India and France have taken the initiative to enter into an agreement in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Prime Ministers Modi and Macron have emphasized the need to develop safe and reliable AI that is useful to humans. France and India also share similar views on terrorism and the Indo-Pacific region. Both countries want a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
This simply means that China’s bullying in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean will not be tolerated. France has once again strongly supported India’s permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council. Macron has announced visa-free transit for Indian citizens and students. France has set a target of welcoming 30,000 Indian students by 2030. This friendship has the potential to strengthen India on every front of technology, security, and economy. India can build a stable and progressive partnership with France politically. This can give a new direction to the global order across the world.
