Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron engaged in discussions on September 6, 2025, focusing on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and efforts to foster stronger ties between India and France. Both leaders expressed their commitment to seeking peaceful resolutions to the crisis in Ukraine.
During the conversation, President Macron shared insights from his recent meetings with European, American, and Ukrainian leaders in Washington, as well as his perspectives on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Modi reiterated India's consistent stance that dialogue and diplomacy are the only paths toward sustainable peace, emphasizing the need for an early restoration of stability in both Ukraine and West Asia. Macron has taken a firm stance against Moscow, describing Putin as a threat and stating that true peace can only come through resistance and ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty. Modi, however, has continued to emphasize India's position of dialogue and diplomacy.
Beyond the immediate concerns of conflict resolution, the two leaders reviewed the progress in India-France bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including defense, civil nuclear energy, technology, and trade. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the strategic partnership between the two nations. A significant highlight was the declaration of 2026 as the "Year of Innovation". Both countries are also working towards the early conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, a pact that aims to expand trade and investment opportunities. Macron also noted that India and France would coordinate closely in the run-up to the French presidency of the G7 and India's presidency of BRICS, both scheduled for 2026. Furthermore, the India-France Year of Innovation will be inaugurated in New Delhi in March 2026.
The strategic partnership between India and France is built upon mutual respect, shared values, and cooperation on global challenges. France was the first country with which India launched its first-ever Strategic Partnership on January 26, 1998, to deepen bilateral relations. This partnership spans a multitude of areas, including economic cooperation, defense collaboration, climate change initiatives, and cultural exchange. The total trade for FY 2022-23 between the two countries surpassed USD 13 billion for the first time, with exports from India exceeding USD 7 billion.
In terms of defense, India and France conduct important exercises such as SHAKTI (Army Exercise), Exercise GARUDA (Bilateral Air Exercise), TARANG SHAKTI (Multinational Air Exercise), and Exercise VARUNA (Naval Exercise). "FRIND-X (France-India Defence Startup Excellence)" was launched in line with the vision enshrined in Horizon 2047 and the India-France Defence Industrial Roadmap. France also supports India's renewable energy ambitions by investing in hydrogen energy and sustainable urban development. Both nations actively drive the implementation of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and co-launched the International Solar Alliance in 2018.
Looking ahead, while India and France share a strong relationship, there are areas that require attention. These include trade and economic frictions, differing defense priorities, and geopolitical divergences. Strengthening defense collaboration, increasing economic cooperation, and enhancing multilateral coordination are crucial for both nations. Both countries are well-positioned to play a key role in regional and global stability.
