India and France elevate ties to Special Global Strategic Partnership during Macron’s visit
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New Delhi: Citing an "increasingly uncertain global environment," India and France upgraded their relationship to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership" during Macron's three-day visit, which began in Mumbai on Monday night. The joint statement emphasised collective efforts to build a stable, rules-based international order, building on their 1998 strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the relationship as a "force for global stability" in today's turbulent era, while Macron highlighted its "remarkable acceleration" amid shifting international dynamics. Both leaders endorsed free trade, with Macron backing the India-EU agreement concluded earlier this year amid US tariff pressures, and stressed rejecting coercion or hegemony, particularly on critical minerals.
Modi and Macron virtually inaugurated the final assembly line for the Airbus-Tata H125 light utility helicopter near Bengaluru. Defence Ministers Rajnath Singh and Catherine Vautrin renewed a 10-year cooperation pact, announced officer exchanges between armies, and formalised a Bharat Electronics-Safran joint venture for HAMMER precision-guided weapons. This follows India's approval for 114 Rafale jets.
The two nations also amended their bilateral tax treaty to prevent double taxation and established a foreign ministers' dialogue to track progress.
The statement called for "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine—without naming Russia, respecting New Delhi's Moscow ties—and backed implementation of President Trump's Gaza peace plan. Macron urged joint efforts for a moratorium on strikes against Ukrainian civilians.
In Mumbai, Macron jogged on Marine Drive, paid respects at the 26/11-hit Taj Mahal Hotel, met Bollywood leaders, and invited Modi to France's G7 summit later this year. He is scheduled for the AI Impact Summit in Delhi on Thursday.
