Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at Villa Kerylos in Nice on 14 June 2026, marking their first meeting since the elevation of India-France ties to a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' earlier this year. The leaders held extensive discussions covering diverse aspects of bilateral relations, focusing on strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors.
In defense collaboration, both leaders expressed satisfaction at the excellent growth and depth of cooperation across all domains and agreed to further intensify it with focus on co-design, co-development and co-production of defense platforms and advanced technologies. In the space sector, they noted the rich legacy of cooperation and discussed furthering collaboration in human spaceflight and space situational awareness, while also exploring ways to expand private sector collaboration. For civil nuclear energy, they noted that India's SHANTI Act creates new opportunities for collaboration, including on small and advanced modular reactors.
Reviewing progress under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, both leaders shared concrete ideas to strengthen bilateral ties in economic growth, technology and innovation, talent mobility, and people-to-people exchanges. They noted steady growth in bilateral trade and agreed to set up a High-level Mechanism to double it within five years. They called for early implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement to expand bilateral trade and investment. Cooperation enhancement was also discussed in SME, aviation and railway sectors, with welcome given to the agreement to establish a Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics in Kanpur. Both leaders agreed to strengthen supply chain resilience, especially in critical minerals, through the newly established Dialogue on Economic Security.
On technology and innovation, both sides adopted an "Innovation Roadmap 2030" to give the partnership long-term direction. They discussed expanding cooperation on Artificial Intelligence and agreed to create a Joint India-France AI Working Group. The joint inauguration of Bharat Innovates at Nice and the Prime Minister's upcoming participation at Vivatech in Paris were noted as strengthening partnership in deep-tech, semiconductors, agri-tech, med-tech, renewable energy, defense and space. Both leaders appreciated the continued expansion of UPI in France and the signing of 19 agreements among institutions in the innovation ecosystems of both countries.
For people-to-people ties, Prime Minister thanked President Macron for the swift operationalisation of visa-free transit for Indian nationals at French airports. They discussed enhancing mobility of talent and students between the two countries and expanding mutual recognition of educational qualifications, with Prime Minister inviting French universities to open campuses in India under the New Education Policy. Enhanced cooperation among museums and cultural institutions, including the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal, was also agreed upon.
The leaders exchanged perspectives on global matters including the situation in West Asia and Ukraine, with Prime Minister looking forward to participating in the upcoming G7 summit in Evian and thanking President Macron for engaging India in substantive discussions leading up to the summit. Both leaders reiterated the importance of the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership in creating opportunities for both peoples and advancing international peace, stability and prosperity.