Mumbai: India and France on Tuesday announced the elevation of their bilateral relationship to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership,” marking a significant development in ties between the two countries. The announcement followed discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai.
President Macron’s visit, his fourth to India and first to Mumbai, included high-level talks held at Lok Bhavan. According to a government release, the two leaders outlined an extensive roadmap covering defence, technology, health and innovation, aligned with the Horizon 2047 vision.
A key development during the visit was progress in defence manufacturing. The leaders virtually inaugurated India’s first private-sector helicopter Final Assembly Line at Vemagal in Karnataka. The facility, set up as a joint venture, will manufacture the H125 light utility helicopter. The first “Made in India” helicopter from this line is expected in 2027.
In another defence-related agreement, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and France-based Safran signed a pact to manufacture HAMMER precision-guided missiles in India. A new Centre of Excellence will also be established in Pune to support manufacturing and maintenance requirements for the Indian Air Force and Navy.
Both sides renewed the overarching Agreement on Defence Cooperation. The renewed framework provides for continued cooperation between the Indian Army and French Land Forces, including reciprocal deployment of officers at each other’s establishments.
Highlighting cooperation in innovation and technology, the two leaders formally launched the India-France Year of Innovation 2026. They also initiated the India-France Innovation Network and agreed to constitute a Joint Advanced Technology Development Group.
Prime Minister Modi described the India-France relationship as a “force for global stability” and said the partnership had expanded beyond conventional diplomatic engagement into what he termed a “Partnership of the People.” He referred to the launch of the Year of Innovation 2026 as a reflection of the evolving nature of ties.
President Macron stated that the partnership between the two countries was rooted in shared prosperity and emphasised its broad scope.
The summit produced several additional outcomes. These included a joint Declaration of Intent for cooperation in critical minerals and metals and a Letter of Intent between India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) and France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) to establish a Centre on Advanced Materials. A Memorandum of Understanding for scientific collaboration between DST and CNRS was also signed.
In the healthcare sector, the leaders announced the launch of the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS, New Delhi. An agreement was also reached to establish an Indo-French Centre for Metabolic Health Sciences. New agreements were signed to support research in infectious diseases.
Economic cooperation was addressed through the signing of an Amending Protocol to the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement between the two countries. The amendments are aimed at facilitating smoother trade and investment flows. Areas of cooperation outlined in the agreements include startups, science and technology, health, renewable energy and skilling.
A Letter of Intent was signed between T-Hub and Nord France to strengthen collaboration in startup ecosystems, innovation and technology. The two sides also agreed to establish a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics.
In renewable energy, the Memorandum of Understanding between India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the French Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty was renewed.
Additionally, a Letter of Intent was exchanged between the Department of Posts under India’s Ministry of Communications and La Poste of France.
The agreements and announcements during the visit collectively reflect an expanded and formalised framework for cooperation across defence, innovation, health, economic policy and renewable energy under the newly designated Special Global Strategic Partnership.
