India and France  upgraded their relationship to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership”, a label that reflects decades of trust built across defence, nuclear energy, space, climate, trade, and technology. 

India-France have elevated their bilateral relationship to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership”, a landmark upgrade that reflects the growing ambition of ties between the two nations. 

This was announced during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India from February 17 to 19, 2026, his fourth visit to the country. The two leaders held bilateral talks, jointly inaugurated the 2026 India France Year of Innovation in Mumbai, and participated in the AI Impact Summit 2026. The India France Special Global Strategic Partnership covers defence, nuclear energy, space, climate, trade, technology, and people-to-people ties, making it one of the most comprehensive bilateral frameworks India has with any country.

From Strategic Partnership to Special Global Strategic Partnership

India and France established diplomatic relations in 1947. The defining moment came on January 26, 1998, when the two countries launched a Strategic Partnership, India’s first with a Western nation and France’s first outside the European Union. Both countries celebrated the 25th anniversary of this partnership in 2023, during which they adopted the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, a long-term blueprint aligning bilateral ties with the centenary of India’s independence, 100 years of diplomatic relations, and 50 years of the Strategic Partnership.

The upgrade to a Special Global Strategic Partnership reflects how far the relationship has come. It is no longer limited to defence procurement or diplomatic visits. It is now a partnership that both countries see as a “force for global good”, one that advances shared interests in security, prosperity, and a rules-based international order. To review progress, both countries have also established an Annual Foreign Ministers Comprehensive Dialogue covering economic security, global issues, and people-to-people exchanges.

Defence: Renewed for Another Decade

Defence remains a pillar of the India France Special Global Strategic Partnership, but it is increasingly defined by co-production rather than procurement. The 6th India France Annual Defence Dialogue was held in Bengaluru on February 17, 2026, co-chaired by Defence Minister of India and French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin. The bilateral defence cooperation agreement was renewed for another 10 years, signed by India’s Defence Secretary and France’s Deputy Director General for International Relations and Strategy.

Key outcomes included an MoU between BEL and Safran for the joint manufacture of HAMMER air-to-surface missiles in India under the Make in India initiative, the reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments, and the joint inauguration of the H125 Final Assembly Line, India’s first private sector helicopter manufacturing facility, combining the strengths of TATA Advanced Systems and Airbus.

India has also pushed for increasing indigenous content in the Rafale fighter jet by up to 50%, and both sides noted progress in the Safran-HAL partnership for the Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH). The P-75 Scorpène submarine programme delivered its sixth vessel to the Indian Navy in January 2025, and both leaders welcomed the continuation of submarine cooperation. Both countries also agreed to constitute a Joint Advanced Technology Development Group to co-develop critical and emerging technologies in niche areas.

Nuclear Energy: Strategic Pillar for India’s Energy Future

Civil nuclear cooperation is one of the most substantive areas of the India France Special Global Strategic Partnership. The President of France acknowledged India’s target of achieving 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047 and welcomed India’s recent reforms allowing private investment in its nuclear sector.

Both leaders agreed to deepen cooperation across the nuclear value chain, from research and skills development to industrial applications. The Special Task Force on civil nuclear energy continues to meet regularly, including on the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant Project in Maharashtra. The relationship between DAE and CEA was reaffirmed, with a call for renewed cooperation in nuclear science and technology. A Declaration of Intent on Small and Advanced Modular Reactors (SMR/AMR) signed in 2025 is also being taken forward through research collaboration between the two agencies.

Climate and the Planet: Shared Responsibility

Both countries have long-standing cooperation on climate and sustainable development, and the India France Special Global Strategic Partnership deepens this further. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement and to holding global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

India and France co-preside over the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA), both headquartered in New Delhi. Discussions are underway to establish a European office of the ISA in Paris. Both nations also welcomed the entry into force of the BBNJ Treaty on marine biodiversity and called for its ratification by the largest number of states.

The MoU between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and France’s Ministry of Economies, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty on renewable energy cooperation was renewed. Both leaders also noted the progress of the AFD Group in financing urban mobility, energy transition, green finance, and biodiversity projects in India.

Trade, Economy, and Innovation

The two leaders welcomed the deepening of business ties and expressed commitment to unlocking the economic potential of the bilateral relationship. The India France CEO Forum was held during President Macron’s visit, and both sides agreed to hold an Economic and Financial Dialogue in 2026. Key sectors of growing collaboration include aerospace, energy, logistics, agri-food, and telecoms.

The amendment to the bilateral tax treaty was signed to provide stability for businesses and encourage greater investment. Both leaders also welcomed the progress of UPI in France, the first European country to offer this payment system, with flagship stores in Paris now accepting it.

Both leaders launched the India France Innovation Network to connect innovators, startups, and businesses from both countries. Following the success of ten Indian startups at Station F in Paris, further discussions on startup incubation are underway, including an LoI between T-Hub and Nord France Invest.

AI and Technology: Shared Governance

The AI Impact Summit 2026, hosted by India, built on the AI Action Summit co-chaired by President Macron and PM Modi in Paris in February 2025. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a secure and trustworthy AI serving people, public interest, and the planet, and affirmed the importance of democratising AI resources and bridging the global AI divide.

Both countries are deepening cooperation in space, with the partnership between CNES and ISRO serving as the backbone. India confirmed participation in France’s International Space Summit in July 2026. A binational centre on digital sciences and technology is being opened in India between INRIA and the Department of Science and Technology, and both sides called for an early joint call for projects by ANR and DST in AI and applied mathematics.

Conclusion

The elevation of India France ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership is more than a diplomatic upgrade. It reflects a shared vision of a multipolar world order, a commitment to co-create solutions in defence, energy, technology, and climate, and a deepening of economic and human bonds. 

Guided by the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, India and France are positioning themselves as partners not just for each other’s benefit, but as a force for global stability and progress.

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India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership FAQs

1. What is the current status of India-France bilateral relations as of 2026? 

Ans. Special Global Strategic Partnership.

2. When did President Macron visit India to announce the partnership upgrade? 

Ans. February 17–19, 2026.

3. What is the Horizon 2047 Roadmap? 

Ans. A long-term bilateral blueprint aligning India-France ties with the centenary of India’s independence and 100 years of diplomatic relations.

4. What is India’s nuclear power capacity target by 2047? 

Ans. 100 GW.

5. Which nuclear power plant project is central to India-France civil nuclear cooperation? 

Ans. Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant, Maharashtra.