Now Reading: Modi and Macron hail growing India-France defence ties in Mumbai
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Modi and Macron hail growing India-France defence ties in Mumbai
French President Emmanuel Macron began a three-day visit focused on technology and defence, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai after paying tribute to victims of the 2008 attacks there. Modi called…
French President Emmanuel Macron began a three-day visit focused on technology and defence, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai after paying tribute to victims of the 2008 attacks there. Modi called the relationship a partnership for global stability. A potential deal for 114 additional Dassault Rafale jets remained under discussion, which India's defence ministry says would be built mostly domestically. An India specialist estimated its value at 30 billion euros and called it the contract of the century, while the French presidency called it historic but not yet finalised.
The two countries inaugurated a Tata-Airbus helicopter assembly line in Karnataka by videoconference and announced a joint venture between France's Safran and India's Bharat Electronics to manufacture AASM Hammer guided bombs. Bilateral trade stands at around 18 billion dollars annually, with French investment in India close to 15 billion dollars. Macron also urged Modi to support a moratorium on attacks against civilians in Ukraine, an issue on which India has not condemned Russia's invasion and continues to buy Russian oil.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The visit produced concrete industrial agreements, the helicopter line and the guided-bomb joint venture, but the larger Rafale order remains a discussion rather than a signed contract, despite confident language from French officials. The report notes India's continued Russian oil purchases and Macron's appeal on Ukraine without saying whether the two leaders actually narrowed their differences on that issue in private talks. Whether the 114-jet Rafale deal is formally signed, rather than merely described as close, is the clearest marker to watch.
Source: IndoDaily
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
