French leader Emmanuel Macron, alongside Brigitte Macron, opened his three-day Indian engagement with a moving homage at the 26/11 Mumbai attack memorial. The Tuesday ritual in the bustling city paid tribute to victims of the 2008 outrage, blending remembrance with diplomacy.
Bilateral parleys with PM Narendra Modi dominate the schedule, tackling defense synergies, Indo-Pacific maritime agendas, AI breakthroughs, and global hotspots. The February 17-19 itinerary builds on decades of collaboration.
Modi and Macron will jointly flag off India-France Innovation Year 2026, inspiring speeches to captains of industry, startup trailblazers, scientific minds, and creative innovators.
An AI Impact Summit appearance in Delhi caps key events. State dignitaries – Maharashtra’s CM Devendra Fadnavis and Governor Acharya Devvrat – rolled out the red carpet at Mumbai airport.
Modi’s X post beamed: ‘Thrilled by your visit to hoist our friendship higher. Dialogues will fortify ties across domains, spurring global advancement.’ Affectionately: ‘See you in Mumbai and Delhi, dear Emmanuel Macron.’
Macron’s India tally hits four: inaugural 2018 trip, 2023 G20 stint, 2024 Republic Day spotlight. First official Mumbai stop.
Since 1998’s strategic embrace, realms like weaponry, cosmos exploration, power generation, and hi-tech have flourished. PMO sources foresee a full-spectrum dialogue on partnership evolution, heralding deepened engagements ahead.