Modi heads to France today: How trust has underpinned India-France ties

The Indian Prime Minister departed for France on June 13, 2026, for bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Nice, followed by participation ...

What Happened

The Indian Prime Minister departed for France on June 13, 2026, for bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Nice, followed by participation in the G7 Summit outreach sessions from June 16–17.
The visit comes months after India and France elevated their relationship to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership" — the highest tier of diplomatic engagement — during President Macron's visit to Mumbai in February 2026.
Defence and civil nuclear energy are the dominant agenda items, with as many as 12 new bilateral initiatives expected to be announced.
France has signalled its readiness to transfer technology for the manufacture of 114 Rafale fighter jets in India, with Indian-developed weapons integration and a significant "Make in India" component — a deal valued at approximately Rs 3.25 lakh crore ($36 billion).
The Prime Minister will also visit Slovakia in a historic first visit by an Indian head of government since that country's independence in 1993, before returning to France for the G7.

Static Topic Bridges

India-France Strategic Partnership: History and Milestones

The India-France relationship is one of the deepest and most enduring bilateral partnerships in India's diplomatic history. The relationship is grounded in a shared commitment to strategic autonomy, multipolarity, and independent foreign policy — both countries have historically resisted being subsumed into bloc alignments.

On January 26, 1998, India and France signed their first Strategic Partnership, the first such agreement India signed with any Western country — notably, it was signed on India's Republic Day, reflecting the depth of mutual regard.
The partnership was initiated during French President Jacques Chirac's visit to India; France was the first Western power to offer a strategic partnership despite India's non-alignment with NATO.
Following India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in May 1998, France did not impose unilateral sanctions and was among the first Western nations to resume normal diplomatic engagement — a moment that cemented strategic trust.
The partnership has since grown through successive summits into areas of defence, civil nuclear energy, space, counterterrorism, maritime security, climate, and Indo-Pacific cooperation.
In February 2026, the partnership was elevated to "Special Global Strategic Partnership" during Macron's Mumbai visit — adding the word "Global" to mark the expanded scope.

Connection to this news: Modi's June 2026 visit is the first high-level bilateral meeting since the partnership elevation, and is expected to operationalise the new "Special Global" tier through 12 specific bilateral initiatives across defence, nuclear energy, and technology.

The Rafale Deal and Defence Technology Transfer

The Rafale fighter aircraft — a twin-engine multirole combat jet manufactured by France's Dassault Aviation — has become the centrepiece of India-France defence cooperation. India first procured 36 Rafale aircraft in a government-to-government deal in September 2016, valued at approximately €7.8 billion ($8.7 billion). The aircraft entered Indian Air Force service in 2020.

The 36-aircraft 2016 deal was a government-to-government procurement; it did not include manufacturing in India.
India's Defence Acquisition Council cleared the purchase of 114 additional Rafale jets in February 2026, valued at approximately Rs 3.25 lakh crore ($36 billion) — one of India's largest-ever defence procurements.
Approximately 100 of the 114 jets will be manufactured in India under the "Make in India" initiative, with an indigenous content target of approximately 30%.
France has agreed to full Transfer of Technology (ToT) for the Rafale, including integration of Indian-developed weapons systems (such as Astra air-to-air missiles) onto the airframe.
The Indian Navy has also contracted 26 Rafale Marine naval variants for carrier operations (signed April 2025, valued at approximately $7.5 billion).

Connection to this news: Modi's France visit is expected to advance negotiations on the 114-Rafale manufacturing deal, with defence technology transfer and Make in India provisions the key discussion points — France's "equal-to-equal" framing signals unprecedented technology sharing terms.

Civil Nuclear Cooperation: The India-France Nuclear Deal

France was the first country to sign a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with India following the 2008 Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) waiver that permitted nuclear trade with India despite its status outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The India-France civil nuclear agreement, signed in September 2008, paved the way for French participation in India's civilian nuclear energy expansion.

The NSG waiver, granted in September 2008, allowed countries to engage in civilian nuclear trade with India — overriding the NPT-based restrictions that had isolated India since its 1974 Pokhran-I test.
The US-India 123 Agreement (civil nuclear deal) of 2008 created the political space for the NSG waiver; France moved quickly to sign its own bilateral agreement immediately after.
France's Areva (now Orano) and EDF have been in discussions with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) for the construction of six EPR (European Pressurised Reactor) reactors at Jaitapur, Maharashtra — projected to be the world's largest nuclear power plant site.
The Jaitapur project remains in the pre-construction stage; liability provisions under India's Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, have been a sticking point in finalising contracts.
France's civil nuclear partnership complements its status as India's only Western partner offering both advanced nuclear reactors and significant defence technology transfer simultaneously.

Connection to this news: Civil nuclear energy is a stated agenda item for the Modi-Macron talks in June 2026; progress on Jaitapur project contracting and liability resolution is expected, alongside a broader clean energy partnership within the Indo-French Special Global Strategic Partnership.

The G7 and India's Engagement as an Outreach Partner

The Group of Seven (G7) comprises the world's seven largest advanced economies: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Canada. While India is not a G7 member, India has been invited as an outreach partner to successive G7 summits — a recognition of its status as the world's most populous nation and fifth-largest economy.

India became a permanent outreach invitee at G7 summits during the French G7 presidency in 2019 (Biarritz), which was the first time "Outreach India" was institutionalised.
India has consistently used G7 outreach sessions to push for reform of the global financial architecture, the UN Security Council, and multilateral development banks to give greater voice to the Global South.
The 2026 G7 Summit is hosted by France; the outreach sessions (June 16–17) where India will participate focus on global development, AI governance, and climate finance.
India's participation in G7 outreach is distinct from its G20 presidency (2023), through which India successfully institutionalised the African Union's permanent membership in the G20.
France's position as both G7 host and India's "Special Global Strategic Partner" gives the bilateral relationship additional momentum during this summit cycle.

Connection to this news: Modi's visit to France combines the bilateral (Rafale, nuclear, strategic partnership) with the multilateral (G7 outreach), reflecting India's growing integration into the global governance architecture — leveraging its partnership with France as a bridge to the Western-led G7 framework while maintaining its voice as a Global South leader.

Key Facts & Data

India-France Strategic Partnership signed: January 26, 1998 (France's President Chirac's visit to India).
Partnership elevated to "Special Global Strategic Partnership": February 2026 (Macron's Mumbai visit).
First 36-aircraft Rafale deal: September 2016, approximately €7.8 billion; jets entered IAF service from July 2020.
114-aircraft Rafale deal cleared by DAC: February 2026, approximately Rs 3.25 lakh crore ($36 billion).
26 Rafale Marine naval variant deal signed: April 2025, approximately $7.5 billion.
India-France Civil Nuclear Agreement: September 2008.
NSG waiver enabling civilian nuclear trade with India: September 2008.
Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act: enacted by India in 2010.
Jaitapur nuclear project (Maharashtra): planned 6 EPR reactors; would be the world's largest nuclear power station by capacity if built.
12 new bilateral initiatives expected to be announced during Modi's June 2026 France visit.
The G7 outreach sessions Modi will attend: June 16–17, 2026, hosted by France.