On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron met to reaffirm the strong ties between India and France. Both leaders expressed optimism about the future of the relationship, highlighting its importance for global stability and prosperity.

Following the meeting on November 22, 2025, Prime Minister Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating that India-France relations "remain a force for global good". President Macron echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the countries' commitment to boosting strategic and economic cooperation, strengthening sovereignty and independence, and working together for effective multilateralism.

The two leaders engaged in in-depth discussions on a variety of global issues, building upon their close contact in recent months. Their conversations this year have focused on advancements in several areas of cooperation, including economic ties, defense, advanced technology, and space collaboration. Modi and Macron have reaffirmed their dedication to strengthening the India-France Strategic Partnership through initiatives like the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, the Indo-Pacific Roadmap, and the Defence Industrial Roadmap.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi thanked President Macron for accepting the invitation to attend the AI Impact Summit, which India will host in February 2026, and said he was looking forward to welcoming the French leader to New Delhi. Macron had previously mentioned that the two countries had agreed to strengthen economic exchanges and strategic partnerships in all areas in order to promote sovereignty and independence.

In preparation for France's G7 presidency and India's BRICS presidency in 2026, both countries have agreed to coordinate closely to promote more effective multilateralism.

In addition to his meeting with President Macron, Prime Minister Modi met with several other world leaders at the G20 Summit, including South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He also interacted with the leaders of Germany, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Angola, Malaysia and Singapore.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi proposed a G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership to improve global access to satellite data, and he also suggested establishing a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative, both of which could greatly benefit the Global South.