Emmanuel Macron in India 2026: PM Modi Strengthens Ties at AI Impact Summit

French President Emmanuel Macron concludes his three-day visit to India on February 19, 2026, marking another milestone in the strategic partnership between the two nations. The visit, which began in Mumbai and culminated in New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit, has focused on deepening cooperation in artificial intelligence, defense, and innovation .

This marks President Macron's fourth visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaling sustained momentum in the bilateral relationship .

AI Impact Summit 2026: A Landmark Event for the Global South

The centerpiece of the visit has been the India AI Impact Summit 2026, being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 16 to 20 . This is the first-ever global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, representing a significant moment for international cooperation on emerging technologies .

Summit Structure and Themes

The summit is anchored in three guiding principles or "sutras":

People: Ensuring AI serves humanity and promotes inclusive growth
Planet: Leveraging AI for environmental sustainability and climate action
Progress: Advancing innovation while protecting cultural diversity

The event is structured around seven key "chakras" or focus areas, building on the momentum of previous international forums including the UK AI Safety Summit, the AI Seoul Summit, and the France AI Action Summit .

From Paris to New Delhi: A Year of AI Cooperation

The India AI Impact Summit follows directly from the AI Action Summit co-chaired by PM Modi and President Macron in Paris last year. Macron emphasized this continuity in his remarks to the diplomatic corps earlier this year: "The whole world came to Paris. We made progress on this and we co-chaired it with Prime Minister Modi and next month, I'll be in India to follow up" .

This high-level convening marks what France's Special Envoy for AI, Anne Bouverot, has called a critical inflection point, moving "from high-level political statements to demonstrable impact and tangible progress in global AI cooperation" .

Mumbai Leg: Innovation Forums and Cultural Celebrations

Before arriving in Delhi, President Macron and PM Modi held bilateral talks in Mumbai on February 17, 2026 .

Key Events in Mumbai

India-France Innovation Forum: Held at the iconic Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, this forum brought together startups, researchers, and business leaders from both nations .
India-France Year of Innovation and Cultural Commemoration: Launched at the Gateway of India, this initiative will be celebrated throughout 2026 in both countries, aiming to deepen collaboration in innovation, technology, research, and people-to-people exchanges .
MOU Exchange: The two leaders exchanged memorandums of understanding followed by a joint press statement .

President Macron and First Lady Madame Brigitte Macron were received at Mumbai airport by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis .

The Vision: Culturally Aware and Inclusive AI

A significant theme emerging from the 2026 discussions is the shared commitment between India and France to developing AI that respects cultural diversity.

Beyond Western-Centric AI

France's Special Envoy for AI, Anne Bouverot, highlighted this shared vision in an interview ahead of the summit:

"In AI, we have, of course, the innovation ecosystem. AI chatbots are like concentrated packs of culture or expressions of culture. You can think about the very few languages in which the chatbots are available. If you ask for an image of a wedding, it will give you a woman in white and a man in a black suit. And that's true in some cultures, but that's not true in all cultures. I think we share between India and France, where our cultures are broader and richer. We share a view that we need to work together to get AI developed in a way that is closer to our needs and to our cultures" .

Practical Applications

Bouverot emphasized the potential for collaboration in sectors where AI can deliver tangible benefits:

Agriculture: Developing AI solutions tailored to Indian and French farming contexts
Commerce: Enhancing business processes through culturally-aware AI
Education: Creating inclusive learning tools that respect linguistic diversity
Healthcare: Building AI systems that address specific public health challenges

Strategic Partnership Beyond AI

The visit has also reinforced the broader India-France strategic partnership across multiple domains.

Horizon 2047 Roadmap

The discussions reviewed progress under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, which charts the course for bilateral cooperation over the next two decades. Regional and global issues, including cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, were also on the agenda .

Areas of Deepening Cooperation

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the India-France partnership continues to strengthen across:

Defense: Long-standing collaboration on military hardware and strategic cooperation
Space: Joint missions and technology sharing
Civil Nuclear Energy: Advancing peaceful nuclear cooperation
Climate Action: Coordinating on environmental sustainability
Education and People-to-People Exchanges: Expanding academic and cultural ties

What They're Saying: Official Reactions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The Prime Minister's participation in the summit underscores India's commitment to becoming a global leader in AI innovation and governance. The summit represents India's vision for technology that serves humanity while protecting national interests.

President Emmanuel Macron

In his address to the diplomatic corps earlier this year, Macron framed the visit as a natural progression of French-Indian cooperation: "Let's finally look at what we have managed to achieve together, the successes of French diplomacy last year—the Artificial Intelligence summit" .

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar

Speaking ahead of the visit, EAM Jaishankar emphasized the global significance of the partnership: "As two nations committed to multi-polarity, I believe that working together is important for ourselves, also for stabilising global politics at this stage" .

Timeline: Key Events of Macron's India Visit 2026

Date	Location	Event
February 16	Mumbai	President Macron and First Lady arrive; received by Maharashtra Governor and CM
February 17	Mumbai	Bilateral talks with PM Modi; MOU exchange; Innovation Forum at Taj Mahal Palace; Year of Innovation launch at Gateway of India
February 18-19	New Delhi	India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam; continued strategic discussions
February 19	New Delhi	Conclusion of visit; summit continues until February 20

The Year of Innovation 2026: What to Expect

The India-France Year of Innovation and Cultural Commemoration, launched during this visit, will feature events throughout 2026 in both countries .

Key Focus Areas

Startup Collaborations: Facilitating partnerships between Indian and French startups
Research Exchanges: Promoting joint research in emerging technologies
Cultural Programs: Celebrating the rich cultural heritage of both nations
Technology Demonstrations: Showcasing innovative solutions in AI and other fields

Why This Matters: The Global Context

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 comes at a crucial moment in the global conversation about artificial intelligence. Following the UK AI Safety Summit, the AI Seoul Summit, and the France AI Action Summit, this gathering in the Global South represents an important shift in the geography of AI governance .

A Voice for the Global South

By hosting the first global AI summit in the Global South, India is positioning itself as a voice for developing nations in shaping the future of AI. The focus on cultural diversity and inclusive development reflects concerns that have often been marginalized in Western-centric AI discussions .

The Franco-Indian Bridge

The partnership between France and India offers a model for how developed and developing nations can collaborate on technology governance. As Anne Bouverot noted, "2026 will be the year of French-Indian innovation. And that's a great opportunity to get our ecosystems, our startups, to work together" .

Looking Ahead: The Future of India-France Cooperation

As President Macron concludes his visit on February 19, 2026, the groundwork has been laid for deepened cooperation throughout the Year of Innovation. The AI Impact Summit continues through February 20, with participants from across the globe expected to contribute to shaping a more inclusive, culturally-aware approach to artificial intelligence .

The message from both leaders is clear: in a world of rapid technological change, partnership between like-minded nations is essential to ensure that innovation serves humanity's highest aspirations.