French President Emmanuel Macron was on a two-day state visit to India to attend the 75th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest. During Macron’s visit, India and France signed deals for various sectors, including defence, space exploration, civil aviation, science and technology, health, public administration and urban development. The two nations also made announcements of cooperation in several areas including UPI, renewable energy, visa issues, etc.

However, defence remained the key focus of the visit. As per the details provided by the Ministry of External Affairs about the various deals signed and agreements made between India and France, the outcomes of the visit are;

• Roadmap for India-France defence industrial partnership (in defence)
• Letter of intent between the Indian Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry for the Armed Forces of France on defence space partnership (in defence)
• An MoU between New Space India Limited (NSIL) and Arianespace SAS, France (in space)
• An MoA between TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus to set up an assembly line for H125 helicopters in India (in civil aviation)
• Framework cooperation arrangement between the Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST), and Institut National de Recherche pour L’Agriculture, L’Alimentation Et L’Environnement (INRAE), France (in science and technology)
• Framework arrangement on cooperation concerning funding of research projects between department of science and technology (DST), government of India and Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), France (in science and technology)
• Declaration of intent to strengthen cooperation in the field of health and medicine.
• Letter of intent between the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions, government of India and the ministry of public sector transformation and the civil service, France on public administration and administrative reforms.
• Renewal of agreement between the ministry of housing and urban affairs, government of India and the ministry of ecological transition and territorial cohesion of France on cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development.

Macron’s visit happened at a time when India is looking at buying 26 Rafale M fighters for the Indian Navy’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant

Key announcements included;

• Declaring 2026 as India-France Year of Innovation
• Operationalisation of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) at Eiffel Tower
• Setting up of a Solar Academy in Senegal under the STAR-C programme of International Solar Alliance
• Establishment of India’s Consulate in Marseille and French Bureau de France (Consulate) in Hyderabad
• Operationalisation of Young Professional Scheme under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement
• Operationalisation of 5-year validity Schengen Visa for Indian Masters alumni of French institutions
• Support to France for United Nations Ocean Conference to be organised in Nice in 2025

India-France Defence Ties

In the bilateral relationship between the two countries, Defence remains the top focus. Earlier, India ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in 2015 and the Indian Air Force received the last of these fighter aircraft in December 2022.

In July 2023, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Paris visit, the two countries signed up to “extend their ground-breaking defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint development of a combat aircraft engine”, according to an official readout.

Macron’s visit happened at a time when India is looking at buying 26 Rafale M fighters for the Indian Navy’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant.

In addition, as part of expanded defence cooperation, New Delhi and Paris also plan to build three more Scorpene-class submarines with technology from France.

The two countries are also key partners in the Indo-Pacific region, where they remain “open to inviting strategic partner countries in the region to participate in Indo-French [naval] exercises”.

Macron’s supportive stance at the UN Security Council on matters crucial to India further strengthened the foundation of the bilateral friendship

Strengthening Strategic Partnership

Macron’s visit was also aimed at strengthening the France-India strategic partnership that the two leaders signed up in Paris on July 14, 2023 through the ‘Horizon 2047 Roadmap’.

“Twenty-five years after the launch of their Strategic Partnership, France and India have embarked on new common goals for the next 25 years. Accordingly, President Macron’s talks with Prime Minister Modi will seek to advance our cooperation and finalise new initiatives under the three pillars of the road map”, the French embassy said in an statement before the visit.

The three pillars are “partnership for security and sovereignty, partnership for the planet, and partnership for the people”.

France and India in recent years have developed a “trust-based cooperation” aimed at strengthening strategic autonomy.

The Indo-French collaboration extends into various domains, reflecting a comprehensive and multifaceted friendship. The civil nuclear pact signed in 2008 marked a significant milestone, with France being the first country to forge such an agreement with India after the United States.

Macron’s supportive stance at the UN Security Council on matters crucial to India further strengthened the foundation of the bilateral friendship.

The economic relationship between the two nations has also flourished under the Modi-Macron friendship, with significant business presence, trade, and investment

On matters like counter-terrorism, maritime security, and climate change, French backing has ensured greater legitimacy and traction for India’s proposals.

This diplomatic collaboration has solidified the bilateral friendship, demonstrating France’s willingness to advocate for India’s interests on the international platform.

Cultural, academic, and people-to-people ties have also flourished, with joint initiatives in trade, investment, science, technology, and education.

France’s active support for India’s global solar alliance and their engagement in various strategic areas, including space exploration, satellite technology, energy, and climate change, highlight the breadth of their collaborative efforts.

The economic relationship between the two nations has also flourished under the Modi-Macron friendship, with significant business presence, trade, and investment.

Over 1,000 French companies operate in India, and vice versa, contributing to bilateral trade reaching $19.2 billion in 2022-23. The on-going negotiations for an India-EU Free Trade Agreement further signify their commitment to expanding economic ties.

Macron’s surprise visit to India for the 75th Republic Day celebrations adds another chapter to this evolving friendship. The fact that he accepted the invitation at a short notice speaks volumes about the trust and unconditional commitment France has towards its partnership with India.