India and France Elevate Strategic Partnership; Launch India–France Year of Innovation 2026

AGENCIES, MUMBAI, FEB 17, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday announced more than 20 agreements and outcomes across defence, skilling, technology cooperation, trade and health following wide-ranging bilateral talks in Mumbai.

The talks focused on boosting ties in trade, defence, energy and critical technologies, with both sides underlining their shared commitment to deepening the strategic partnership.

Addressing a joint press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday, PM Modi said, "Today the world is going through a period of uncertainty. In such an environment, the India–France partnership is a force for global stability".

He described France as one of India's oldest strategic partners and said that together with President Macron, the two nations have given their relationship "unprecedented depth and energy".

"Based on this trust and shared vision, today we are establishing our relations as a Special Global Strategic Partnership," the PM said.

PM Modi announced the launch of the India–France Year of Innovation 2026, calling it a major step towards transforming the strategic partnership into a people-centric collaboration. "With the launch of the India–France Year of Innovation, we are transforming our strategic partnership into a Partnership of the People. Because innovation doesn't happen in isolation, but through collaboration," he said.

He added that the initiative aims to strengthen people-to-people connections and link industries, startups, MSMEs, students and researchers in defence, clean energy, space and emerging technologies.

As part of this push, PM Modi further said, "We are going to launch the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health, the Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology, and the National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics. And these are not just institutions. These are future-building platforms".

In a major defence-industrial development, an Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems joint venture to manufacture the H125 helicopter Final Assembly Line in Karnataka was virtually inaugurated by the two leaders.

The PM said India and France would together manufacture the world's only helicopter capable of flying to the heights of Mount Everest in India and export it globally.

Thanking PM Modi for the warm welcome on his fourth official visit to India, Macron said, "The bilateral relationship between India and France is truly remarkable and unique. This relationship is one of trust, openness, and ambition".

He added that both sides had decided to elevate ties to a Special Strategic Partnership, reflecting "complete faith in this relationship".

Highlighting cultural ties, PM Modi said India would soon open the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in France and collaborate on projects such as the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal, marking a new chapter in the India–France partnership focused on global stability and prosperity.

The summit comes days after India cleared a proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets from France under a government-to-government framework, one of the largest military procurement programmes in recent years.

"From Rafale jets to submarines, we are expanding defence cooperation," Macron said, adding, "India is one of France's most trusted partners".

Macron highlighted cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, technology and artificial intelligence, saying both nations believe in the rule of law and a world without hegemony.

Referring to joint initiatives such as the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor and the International Solar Alliance, he said the two countries have launched several ambitious initiatives together over the past eight years.