Amid gentle showers, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in India’s capital with Brigitte Macron, greeted ceremonially by MOS KV Singh. His heartfelt salaam to performing artists underscored the visit’s blend of tradition and tomorrow’s tech.
Tailored for the AI Impact Summit 2026, this trip—Macron’s fourth—follows a Mumbai rendezvous with PM Modi and echoes previous engagements like 2018’s first visit, 2023 G20, and 2024 Republic Day. The MEA’s posts frame it as a catalyst for stronger India-France ties in AI’s burgeoning domain.
Their 1998 strategic foundation has yielded defense deals, space ventures, tech exchanges, and energy initiatives. Culminating in 2026’s ‘India-France Innovation Year,’ focus sharpens on AI via a collaborative roadmap for ethical development. The Mumbai joint address saw Modi elevate relations to ‘Special Global Strategic Partnership,’ expanding scopes to security architectures, oceanic safeguards, extraterrestrial pursuits, and planetary concerns.
This progression marks a strategic deepening, from transactional to transformational. Macron’s Delhi discourse at the summit will propel these goals, fostering innovation ecosystems. In an AI-dominated world, Indo-French leadership in responsible tech heralds collaborative triumphs, securing mutual prosperity and global stability.