India-France Tango Uplifts the Mood, A Special Global Strategic Partnership for a Multipolar World
In an era marked by uncertain global diplomacy and the rise of protectionist tendencies, the deepening strategic partnership between India and France provides a sense of comfort and stability. The steadily expanding bilateral cooperation encompasses virtually every area—from the deep oceans to the tallest mountains, from defence and high technology to AI, critical minerals, renewable energy, and health.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s ongoing visit to India—his fourth since assuming office in 2017—carries significance that goes beyond atmospherics and the Modi-Macron personal chemistry, and reaffirms the growing convergence of ideas between the two democracies on pursuing a multipolar and rules-based global order. The elevation of bilateral ties to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership,” announced after a meeting between the two leaders in Mumbai, is hugely important, particularly coming at a time when international geopolitics is undergoing a churn.
The Architecture of Partnership
The two sides inked a total of 21 agreements and documents providing for deepening of cooperation in an array of areas, including one on defence cooperation and another on a joint venture between Bharat Electronics Ltd and French defence giant Safran to produce Hammer missiles in India. These are not mere pieces of paper; they are the architectural blueprints of a relationship that both sides have decided to build, brick by brick, project by project.
The purchase of a second tranche of Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene submarines means that after Russia, France has become India’s second-largest defence partner. This is a significant shift. For decades, India’s defence procurement was overwhelmingly oriented toward Russia. Now, France has emerged as a trusted alternative, offering not just platforms but also technology transfer and co-production.
The inauguration of the assembly line for H-125, the world’s only helicopter capable of flying to the heights of Mount Everest, demonstrates the deepening trust between the two countries. The delivery of the first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected in early 2027. It will also be available for export in the South Asian region. This is not import substitution; it is genuine co-creation, with India becoming a manufacturing hub for advanced aerospace platforms serving global markets.
Horizon 2047: A Long-Term Vision
Another illustration of the deepening strategic bond is the ‘Horizon 2047,’ a long-term roadmap unveiled in 2023 that commits both countries to collaboration in defence, technology, space, energy, and the Indo-Pacific through 2047, when India marks the centenary of independence. This is not a short-term arrangement tied to the electoral cycles of either country. It is a vision for the next two decades, providing a stable framework for cooperation that can survive changes in government and shifts in the geopolitical landscape.
India’s move to expand its Rafale fleet and the French readiness to produce some of them in India, along with the planned assembly of helicopters and joint jet-engine cooperation, point to a consequential bilateral defence industrial partnership. The Indian private sector is expected to play a larger role in the transformation of the domestic aerospace ecosystem in collaboration with France.
The European Pivot
The visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in January, the presence of the European Union leadership at this year’s Republic Day celebrations, and the signing of the long-negotiated free trade agreement highlight the growing salience of Europe in India’s strategic thinking. Strategic experts are of the view that India’s multipolar strategy now runs through Europe.
This is a significant recalibration. For decades, India’s engagement with the West was primarily through the United States. Europe was seen as important but secondary. Now, as America’s commitment to multilateralism wavers and protectionism rises under Donald Trump’s leadership, Europe has emerged as a critical partner for India’s strategic autonomy.
The relationship with France is at the heart of this European pivot. France has consistently advocated for European strategic autonomy and for a multipolar world. This shared vocabulary has created a measure of comfort between Delhi and Paris that is rare in international relations.
The AI Convergence
On AI, both countries share similar views, seeking regulatory frameworks that protect sovereignty while encouraging innovation. The AI Impact Summit, co-chaired by Modi and Macron, is a statement of intent that the Global South will not merely consume the AI revolution but help shape it.
India and France advocate a “third way” on AI governance—between American corporate concentration and Chinese state-centric control. Whether this approach can shape global norms remains uncertain, given the US and China’s lead in AI development. But the commitment to try is itself significant.
The Geopolitical Context
In an era where America has abandoned the spirit of multilateralism and turned largely protectionist under Donald Trump’s leadership, the deepening ties between New Delhi and Paris provide elbow room to assert strategic independence. The US remains India’s most important bilateral partner, but it is no longer the only one. Europe, and France in particular, offers an alternative source of technology, investment, and political support.
This is not about choosing sides. It is about having options. Strategic autonomy means not being dependent on any single partner. It means being able to navigate a multipolar world with confidence and flexibility. The India-France partnership enhances that ability.
The Unspoken Factor
There is also an unspoken factor that binds India and France: both are civilisational states with a sense of their own exceptionalism. Both resist the idea that there is only one model of modernity, one way of organising society, one set of values that all must adopt. Both believe in the importance of sovereignty, in the right of nations to chart their own course.
This philosophical alignment is not often discussed in policy papers, but it is real. It creates a level of trust that purely transactional relationships lack.
Conclusion: A Partnership for the Ages
The India-France partnership has matured against considerable odds. That post-colonial India could build such a close relationship with a former imperial power is remarkable. That this relationship has flourished despite changes in government in both countries is testament to its strength.
The 21 agreements signed during Macron’s visit, the elevation of ties to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership,” the deepening defence industrial cooperation, the convergence on AI governance, and the shared vision of a multipolar world all point in one direction: this partnership is not just enduring; it is deepening.
In a world of uncertainty, the India-France tango uplifts the mood. It reminds us that even in turbulent times, nations can build relationships based on trust, shared values, and mutual benefit. It gives us reason to hope that the multipolar world we seek is not just a dream but a destination within reach.
Q&A: Unpacking the India-France Strategic Partnership
Q1: What is the significance of elevating ties to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership”?
This new diplomatic tier signals both the depth of existing bonds and the ambition of what both sides intend to build. It goes beyond routine diplomatic language to indicate a relationship that is truly exceptional—one that spans defence, technology, education, and critical minerals. It creates a framework for long-term cooperation that can survive changes in government and shifts in the geopolitical landscape.
Q2: How is defence cooperation evolving beyond traditional buyer-seller relationships?
The partnership is shifting from transaction to co-creation. Key developments include the purchase of a second tranche of Rafale jets and Scorpene submarines, a joint venture between BEL and Safran to produce Hammer missiles in India, and the assembly line for H-125 helicopters in Karnataka. The Indian private sector is expected to play a larger role in the domestic aerospace ecosystem. This is genuine co-creation, not just assembly of imported components.
Q3: What is Horizon 2047 and why is it important?
Horizon 2047 is a long-term roadmap unveiled in 2023 committing both countries to collaboration in defence, technology, space, energy, and the Indo-Pacific through 2047, when India marks the centenary of independence. It provides a stable framework for cooperation spanning two decades, insulating the partnership from short-term political cycles. It signals that both sides are thinking beyond the immediate and building for the long term.
Q4: How does the India-France relationship fit into India’s broader European pivot?
India’s multipolar strategy now runs through Europe. The visit of German Chancellor Merz, EU leadership at Republic Day celebrations, and the India-EU FTA all highlight Europe’s growing salience. With America turning protectionist under Trump, Europe offers an alternative source of technology, investment, and political support. France, as a leading advocate of European strategic autonomy, is at the heart of this recalibration.
Q5: What is the “third way” on AI that India and France advocate?
India and France seek regulatory frameworks that protect sovereignty while encouraging innovation—between American corporate concentration and Chinese state-centric control. They argue the Global South should shape the AI revolution rather than merely consume it. While it remains uncertain whether this approach can shape global norms given US-China dominance, the commitment to try is itself significant. The AI Impact Summit, co-chaired by Modi and Macron, is a statement of this intent.
