French President Macron Announces PM Modi’s State Visit, Participation in AI Action Summit

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a state visit to France and participate in the upcoming Artificial Intelligence Action Summit on February 11-12.

Speaking at the French Ambassador Conference, Macron emphasized the summit’s global significance. “France will host the AI Summit for Action, enabling an international discussion on artificial intelligence. Prime Minister Modi will attend following his state visit, facilitating dialogue with major powers including the U.S., China, India, and the Gulf states,” Macron stated.

This visit marks another chapter in the strengthening of Franco-Indian relations. The two leaders last met during the G20 Summit in Brazil. Modi’s most recent visit to France was as the guest of honor for the Bastille Day parade in July 2023, while Macron served as the chief guest at India’s Republic Day Parade in January 2024.

Major Defence Deals on the Horizon
In addition to discussions on artificial intelligence, significant defense agreements between India and France are expected to be finalized during the visit.

Two major deals, collectively valued at approximately $10 billion, are nearing completion:

1. Procurement of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for Indian Navy aircraft carriers.
   
   
2. Acquisition of three additional Scorpène-class diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy.

At the annual press conference in December, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi confirmed that both deals are in advanced stages. “Formalities of the acquisition process are nearly complete. We expect the agreements to be finalized next month,” he said.

The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has already approved the necessary procurements, according to a release from the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Cultural Partnership and National Museum Development
Beyond defense and technology, cultural collaboration will also feature prominently during the visit. The Union Ministry of Culture has partnered with France Museums Development (FMD) to establish the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum in Delhi. Progress on this project is expected to be reviewed by Modi and Macron during their discussions.

The visit underscores the expanding breadth of Indo-French relations, encompassing defense, technology, and cultural diplomacy, with a shared commitment to fostering international cooperation.