French President Macron in India for AI talks, $35bn Rafale jet deal on agenda

2026-02-17 - 06:26

MUMBAI – France President Emmanuel Macron arrived in India on Tuesday for a three-day official visit focused on deepening strategic, defence and technological cooperation between the two countries, with more focus on multibillion-dollar fighter jet agreement high on the agenda. Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte Macron, landed in Mumbai late Monday night, marking his fourth trip to India since taking office in 2017. He is scheduled to hold formal talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before travelling to New Delhi to participate in an artificial intelligence summit later this week. Macron’s visit strengthens both countries’ efforts to further consolidate their strategic partnership while expanding cooperation into emerging fields such as advanced technology and artificial intelligence. A central focus of the discussions is India’s proposed acquisition of 114 additional Rafale fighter jets from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation. The potential deal, estimated at roughly $35 billion, would significantly expand defence collaboration between the two nations. Indian defence officials recently hinted that the proposal has received initial clearance, with most of the aircraft expected to be manufactured in India as part of the country’s drive to strengthen domestic production capabilities. If concluded, the agreement would add to the 36 Rafale jets already inducted into the Indian Air Force under a 2016 contract, along with 26 naval variants previously ordered. Welcome to India! India looks forward to your visit and to advancing our bilateral ties to new heights. I am confident that our discussions will further strengthen cooperation across sectors and contribute to global progress. See you in Mumbai and later in Delhi, my dear friend... https://t.co/5gDTDt6llp — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 17, 2026 The negotiations with the manufacturer are underway, though French officials have expressed optimism about reaching what they describe as a historic accord. During the visit, the two leaders are also set to inaugurate India’s first helicopter final assembly line via videoconference from Mumbai. The facility, established as a joint venture between Tata Group and Airbus, is located in Karnataka near Bengaluru and will produce the Airbus H125 helicopter. Beyond defence, talks are expected to cover artificial intelligence collaboration, trade expansion and broader geopolitical developments. Bilateral trade between France and India currently stands at around $18 billion annually, driven largely by defence and aerospace sectors. French foreign direct investment in India is estimated at nearly $15 billion. India has increasingly diversified its defence partnerships over the past decade, seeking to reduce dependence on Russia, historically its primary supplier of military equipment. France has emerged as one of New Delhi’s key strategic and economic partners during this period. The leaders are also likely to discuss global economic uncertainty and regional security issues. However, differences remain on certain international matters, including India’s stance on the Ukraine conflict and its continued purchase of Russian oil. Watch: French President Macron hit with egg months after slapping incident