India and France have elevated their bilateral relationship to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership” following a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on February 17, 2026. During the visit, both sides exchanged 21 agreements and documents covering defence, critical minerals, renewable energy, high technology, and innovation.
The new framework builds on decades of cooperation and introduces structured mechanisms such as an annual Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue and the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, which outlines long-term goals for strategic collaboration. Officials said the partnership aims to deepen engagement not only in diplomacy and security but also in science, research and emerging technologies.
Defence cooperation featured prominently among the agreements. Key initiatives include the inauguration of an H125 Helicopter Assembly Line in Vemagal, Karnataka, renewal of the bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement, and a joint venture between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and French aerospace firm Safran to produce Hammer missiles in India. The two countries also agreed on reciprocal deployment of military officers to strengthen operational coordination between the Indian Army and French Land Forces.
In the area of critical minerals and advanced technology, both nations issued a Joint Declaration of Intent to collaborate on supply chains, processing and strategic use of essential materials. They also agreed to establish a Joint Advanced Technology Development Group and pursue research partnerships, including a proposed Centre on Advanced Materials between India’s Department of Science & Technology and France’s National Centre for Scientific Research.
The agreements further extend to innovation and people-centric initiatives, such as launching the India-France Year of Innovation, creating an India-France Innovation Network, and setting up an Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS, New Delhi. Additional areas of cooperation include renewable energy, skilling in aeronautics and digital sciences, postal services, and measures to facilitate economic engagement.
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Officials from both sides said the wide-ranging agreements are intended to strengthen defence preparedness, secure access to critical resources needed for clean energy and semiconductor ecosystems, and advance joint research in emerging technologies. The enhanced partnership is expected to provide a long-term framework for collaboration on global security, technological development and resilient economic growth.
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