New Delhi, Feb 17 : French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Mumbai early Tuesday morning for a three-day official visit aimed at deepening strategic ties between India and France. He was accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron.
The visiting leader was received at the airport by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Welcoming the French President, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the engagement is expected to provide fresh impetus to the India–France strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Macron in Mumbai on February 17. The talks will cover the ambitious Horizon 2047 Roadmap and formally launch the Year of Innovation 2026 initiative. Regional and global developments, particularly cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, are also on the agenda.
Rafale Deal Under Spotlight
Defence collaboration is expected to be a central theme of the visit. India’s proposed acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft from Dassault Aviation is likely to figure prominently in discussions. The estimated deal is valued at around ₹3.25 lakh crore.
The Defence Acquisition Council recently granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the Indian Air Force’s procurement of the multi-role fighter jets. As per the proposal, 18 aircraft would be procured in fly-away condition, while the remaining 96 are planned to be manufactured domestically.
AI Summit in New Delhi
Following engagements in Mumbai, Macron will travel to New Delhi to participate in the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam. The global summit, scheduled from February 16 to 20, will bring together international stakeholders to deliberate on emerging developments in artificial intelligence.
Officials believe the visit will inject renewed momentum into bilateral cooperation across defence, technology and geopolitical coordination.