“Three days from Mumbai to New Delhi to deepen our strategic partnership even further,” Macron wrote on the social network X upon arriving in Mumbai, from where he will then proceed to New Delhi for a summit on artificial intelligence.
The visit of the French leader, the fourth to India since 2017, comes after the confirmation of the Indian authorities’ intention to make a record order of Rafale jets, as well as the recently signed mega free trade agreement between the EU and New Delhi.
“One hundred and fourteen Rafale jets, 30 billion euros – it’s the contract of the century! An extraordinary achievement!” commented Christophe Jaffrelot, an expert on Indian affairs at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, as quoted by the France-Presse (AFP) news agency.
To date, 299 Rafale aircraft have been sold abroad. India purchased 36 for its Air Force in 2016 and 26 for its Navy by 2025. Negotiations with manufacturer Dassault for the acquisition of 114 additional aircraft, destined for the Air Force and largely manufactured in India, have yet to be finalized.
The Élysée Palace expressed optimism regarding the conclusion of this “historic contract,” which is expected to be a focal point during Macron’s visit. The French president and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also inaugurate, via videoconference from Mumbai, an assembly line for Airbus H125 helicopters, both civilian and military, located near Bangalore in southern India.
“With this visit, we seek to further strengthen cooperation,” stated the French presidency, which also aims to diversify economic and commercial partnerships at a time when India, the world’s most populous country with 1.4 billion inhabitants, is on track to become the fourth largest global economy.
The goal is also to address the growing uncertainties generated by U.S. President Donald Trump, his trade war, and constant diplomatic attacks, as well as the rise of China.
The volume of bilateral trade between France and India, driven by the defense and aerospace sectors—where the Indian market is predominantly equipped with Airbus aircraft—amounts to about 15 billion euros. Additionally, nearly 13 billion euros in French foreign direct investments are deployed in India.
The trip includes four French ministers, including the Ministers of Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin, and Economy, Roland Lescure. Around 100 French business leaders, including those from Dassault, Schneider Electric, and Mistral AI, as well as representatives from small and medium enterprises and startups, will also participate in the visit.
Announcements and contracts are expected in areas such as health, agriculture, and also in artificial intelligence, a sector in which Paris aims for greater cooperation with New Delhi, stated the Élysée Palace. However, a significant point of contention persists between the two countries regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
India has never condemned the invasion launched by Moscow in 2022 and continues to purchase Russian oil despite international sanctions, while France is one of Ukraine’s main Western allies.
