Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted French President Emmanuel Macron for bilateral talks on Tuesday, February 17, in Mumbai alongside the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Mumbai on Monday night along with First Lady Brigitte Macron on a three-day official visit to India. Maharashtra governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis received President Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron at the Mumbai airport.
Macron has arrived in India for a three-day visit from February 17 to February 20 on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. Besides, the two leaders will also engage in bilateral talks to strengthen trade and military partnership.
The bilateral talk is expected to result in the realisation of the potential contract of 114 additional French fighter jets between India and France. Macron’s visit to India comes amid strengthening trade ties between India and European countries. India had earlier indicated its intentions to place additional orders for the Rafale Jet. India has also signed a landmark free trade agreement with the European Union earlier in January, which both parties described as ‘mother of all deals’.
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India recently took a step forward towards ordering an additional 114 Rafale jets from the French company Dassault, just days ahead of Macron's visit. The External Affairs Ministry said that Macron's visit to India, exactly a year after PM Modi’s visit to France in February 2025, reflects the “mutual trust and depth of the India-France strategic partnership.”
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After the engagements in Mumbai, Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte Macron, will participate in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on February 19. The AI Action Summit 2025 was co-hosted by India and France. Innovation, Science and Technology are key parts of the Horizon 2047 roadmap. India and France have declared 2026 a bilateral year of innovation, where both parties will focus on collaborating on events for innovation in different sectors, including culture, trade and technology.