TLDR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephonic conversation, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the India-France strategic partnership. Discussions covered peaceful resolutions for conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, enhanced bilateral cooperation in trade, defense, civil nuclear energy, and innovation, including a focus on Artificial Intelligence. Both leaders also agreed to coordinate efforts for France’s G7 and India’s BRICS presidencies in 2026 and work towards the success of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in the same year.
New Delhi/Paris – In a significant telephonic conversation on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to bolstering the India-France strategic partnership. The leaders engaged in extensive discussions spanning global challenges, regional issues, and bilateral cooperation, underscoring the depth and breadth of their nations’ ties.
A primary focus of their dialogue was the pursuit of peaceful resolutions to ongoing conflicts. Both leaders exchanged views on the situations in Ukraine and West Asia. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s consistent stance, emphasizing support for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the early restoration of peace and stability. President Macron, in turn, shared his assessments from recent meetings in Washington with European, US, and Ukrainian leaders, as well as his perspectives on the situation in the Gaza Strip. Macron stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “I have just spoken with Prime Minister @NarendraModi. We coordinated our positions on the war in Ukraine in order to move towards a just and lasting peace, with strong guarantees for Ukraine and Europe’s security.”
The conversation also delved into strengthening bilateral cooperation across various critical sectors. The leaders reviewed progress in trade, defense, civil nuclear energy, technology, and renewable energy. President Macron highlighted the mutual agreement to “strengthen our economic exchanges and our strategic partnership in all areas; this is the key to our sovereignty and independence.” This commitment extends to a long-standing defense cooperation, with both leaders welcoming the continued collaboration on air and maritime assets, in line with the ambitious Defence Industrial Roadmap agreed upon in 2024.
A key outcome of their discussion was the decision to mark 2026 as the “India–France Year of Innovation,” with a formal inauguration planned in New Delhi. This initiative underscores the paramount importance both nations place on advancing scientific knowledge, research, and innovation. Significantly, cooperation on emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence, featured prominently. Following up on the AI Action Summit held in Paris in February, where Prime Minister Modi participated, both leaders agreed to work towards the success of the AI Impact Summit scheduled in New Delhi in 2026. This highlights a shared vision for responsible and impactful AI development.
Looking ahead, Modi and Macron committed to close coordination in multilateral forums. This includes preparations for France’s upcoming G7 presidency and India’s BRICS presidency, both slated for 2026. Macron also conveyed support for the early conclusion of a free trade agreement between India and the European Union, a negotiation both sides hope to accelerate.
Prime Minister Modi shared his sentiments on X, stating, “Had a very good conversation with my friend President Macron. Exchanged views on efforts for peaceful resolution of conflicts in Ukraine and in West Asia. Reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthen the India-France strategic partnership.”
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The telephonic exchange between Prime Minister Modi and President Macron underscores the robust and evolving strategic partnership between India and France. Their comprehensive dialogue on global peace, economic cooperation, technological advancement, and multilateral coordination sets a clear agenda for intensified engagement in the coming years, particularly with the “Year of Innovation” and the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in 2026.
