Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun a six‑day visit to France and Slovakia, a tour that includes talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, India’s first‑ever prime‑ministerial visit to Slovakia, and participation in the G7 Summit in Évian as an invited partner. France has positioned India as a central strategic priority, with both sides expected to announce around a dozen new initiatives covering defence, technology, energy, space and industrial cooperation. The visit follows the elevation of the India–France partnership to a Special Global Strategic Partnership earlier this year.
Modi’s France leg opens with a focus on innovation and strategic cooperation, with discussions expected on long‑term defence industrial collaboration, co‑development of aviation and naval platforms, and expansion of maintenance and support infrastructure. Talks are also likely to cover the MRFA fighter jet programme, under which 18 Rafale aircraft would be delivered from France while the rest would be manufactured in India with about 50 per cent indigenous content. Civil nuclear cooperation is another major agenda item, with both sides exploring deeper collaboration in nuclear energy.
India will also participate in a major exhibition showcasing advances in digital public infrastructure, quantum research, clean‑energy technologies and deep‑tech entrepreneurship, part of New Delhi’s push to attract global investment and expand access to European markets.
At the G7 Summit, India will join all sessions despite not being a member, reflecting its growing global role. Discussions will focus on geopolitical crises, economic cooperation, AI governance and development partnerships. The first session will address the Russia‑Ukraine war, followed by deliberations on the West Asia crisis with leaders from Egypt, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Modi is also expected to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines, with trade, visas, energy and strategic cooperation likely to feature.