French President Emmanuel Macron will undertake a three-day official visit to India from February 17 to 19 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday. The visit is expected to further deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries, particularly in technology, defense, innovation, and global governance.

During his stay, Macron will attend the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on February 19, a high-profile global event focused on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and responsible AI governance. The summit, scheduled for February 19–20, was earlier announced by PM Modi at the France AI Action Summit.

The MEA stated that Macron and Modi will hold extensive bilateral discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation across key sectors under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, a long-term framework guiding India-France collaboration in defense, space, energy, climate action, and advanced technologies.

Beyond bilateral ties, the two leaders are expected to exchange views on regional and global issues, including developments in the Indo-Pacific, multilateral reforms, and geopolitical stability. The visit will also take the leaders to Mumbai, where they will jointly inaugurate the India–France Year of Innovation 2026, marking a year-long celebration of scientific, cultural, and technological collaboration.

Macron’s visit follows PM Modi’s trip to France in February 2025 and reflects the growing depth of trust between the two nations. The engagement highlights their shared commitment to a stable, multipolar world order and stronger global cooperation.

On Republic Day this year, Macron extended warm greetings to India and confirmed his upcoming visit. Sharing a 2024 Jaipur photograph with PM Modi, he described their past meeting as a “wonderful memory” and expressed enthusiasm for continuing their partnership.

In November, Modi and Macron met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, where they reaffirmed that India–France ties remain “a force for global good.” Earlier, in September, the two leaders held a phone conversation reviewing progress in bilateral cooperation and discussing the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing the need for peace and diplomacy.

India and France share a robust Strategic Partnership rooted in defense cooperation, civil nuclear collaboration, space exploration, climate action, and digital innovation. With AI emerging as a central theme of global competition and cooperation, Macron’s visit is expected to elevate this partnership to a new technological frontier.

As New Delhi prepares to host the AI Impact Summit, the visit underscores India’s growing role as a key player in shaping the global digital and innovation ecosystem.