Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to France from February 10 to 12 marks a significant moment in Indo-French relations, with implications spanning artificial intelligence (AI), defence, and nuclear cooperation.
As India seeks to strengthen its strategic and technological ties with France, the visit is expected to yield key announcements that reinforce India’s global positioning in emerging technologies and military capabilities.
At the heart of the visit lies the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, co-chaired by PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. The summit underscores AI’s transformative impact across sectors, from governance to public interest, with an emphasis on ethical and responsible AI deployment.
India’s expectations—articulated by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri—align with global concerns about AI safety, accountability, and trust. France, having previously proposed an AI Foundation to coordinate international efforts, is likely to push forward concrete actions. The presence of U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang further elevates the summit’s global relevance.
Given India’s expanding AI ecosystem and its aspirations to leverage AI for governance and industry, this summit offers New Delhi a platform to shape global AI policies. The launch of an AI Foundation—similar to climate change funding mechanisms—could help address AI-driven challenges, particularly in healthcare and innovation.
A key element of the discussions is also expected to be ways to counter China’s growing dominance in AI, particularly through state-backed initiatives like DeepSeek and its investments in AI-driven surveillance, military applications, and large language models.
With concerns over AI ethics, transparency, and geopolitical influence, India, France, and like-minded nations are likely to explore collaborative strategies to ensure that AI development remains open, inclusive, and governed by democratic principles.
Defence cooperation remains a key pillar of the India-France partnership, and Modi’s visit is expected to accelerate high-profile military procurements. India is eyeing 26 Rafale-M fighter jets and three Scorpene-class submarines, crucial for enhancing its naval capabilities. Discussions on technology transfers under “Make in India” and collaborations between Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and France’s Naval Group further highlight India’s emphasis on self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The potential finalisation of these deals before March 31, coupled with anticipated Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval, underscores India’s commitment to modernising its armed forces. With an eye on maritime security and Indo-Pacific stability, India’s growing reliance on French defence technology signals a deepening strategic alignment.
However, India must walk a delicate diplomatic tightrope, as announcing major defence procurements from France days before Modi’s visit to the U.S. could antagonise President Donald Trump, who has been vocal about selling American military hardware to India.
Given Washington’s strategic expectations, New Delhi will have to carefully manage its messaging, ensuring that its defence engagements with France do not overshadow its security partnership with the U.S.
Given the geopolitical sensitivities, New Delhi will need to strike a balance between its European and American defence partnerships. With Trump’s “America First” policy in play, India will have to reassure Washington that its growing military ties with France complement—not compete with—its strategic cooperation with the United States.
At the same time, the AI Summit could serve as an important forum for India and France to rally support against China’s AI hegemony, ensuring that the development of AI remains aligned with democratic values, innovation-driven economies, and global cooperation rather than state-controlled monopolies.
This visit, coming early in Modi’s third term, could serve as a launchpad for deeper Indo-French collaboration, while also testing India’s diplomatic dexterity on the global stage.
