Editorial: Deepening French friendship

At a time when America has abandoned the spirit of multilateralism and turned largely protectionist under Donald Trump’s leadership, the deepening ties between New Delhi and Paris provide India elbow room to assert strategic independence

In the present era of volatile geopolitics, rise of protectionist tendencies and shifting alliances, having an all-weather friend with a stable and consistent approach is an asset for any nation. India can surely count on France to provide that sense of comfort and predictability. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to France–his seventh since 2014–to participate in the G7 Summit and hold a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron will provide an opportunity for both countries to further deepen the cooperation. This would be the first meeting between them after the two countries announced the elevation of bilateral ties to “Special Global Strategic Partnership” last year. There is a growing convergence of views between them over several geopolitical issues. On the conflict in West Asia, the two countries hold a common view that the continuation of the war is not in anyone’s interest. On AI, both countries share similar views, seeking regulatory frameworks that protect sovereignty while encouraging innovation. The strategic trust, built over years of partnership, has now matured in fields as critical as defence, nuclear energy and space. The India-France defence collaborations run deep and wide, spanning the entire spectrum from air and naval assets to helicopter engines and missiles. Some flagship examples of cooperation include the Rafale aircraft, Scorpene submarines and Shakti helicopter engines. France is one of India’s most preferred partners in Europe, and the bilateral relationship has been a success story over the last several decades.

With the passing of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, there is a great opportunity for collaboration between the Indian and French industries. On Small Modular Reactors/Advanced Modular Reactors, India and France signed a Declaration of Intent on cooperation in this sector in February 2025. In the space sector, there is the rich legacy of six-decade-old cooperation between ISRO and the French national space agency CNES. The Indian private sector is expected to play a larger role in the transformation of the domestic aerospace ecosystem in collaboration with France. At a time when America has abandoned the spirit of multilateralism and turned largely protectionist under Donald Trump’s leadership, the deepening ties between New Delhi and Paris provide an elbow room to assert strategic independence. The steadily expanding bilateral cooperation covers virtually every area—from the deep oceans to the tallest mountain, from defence and high technology to AI, critical minerals, renewable energy, and health. A key highlight of the PM’s ongoing visit would be the inauguration of the “Bharat Innovates” event in the French city of Nice that brings together more than 120 Indian companies and startups, and prominent business leaders from France and other countries. Alongside Macron, Modi will also attend the VivaTech Summit, Europe’s largest technology and startup event that will host an Indian pavilion, the largest one at the summit this year.

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