As India and France approach three decades of their strategic partnership, the relationship is entering a more ambitious and future-oriented phase under the Horizon 2047 roadmap.
India established diplomatic relations with France in 1947, but the defining moment came on 26 January 1998, when the two countries launched a Strategic Partnership – India’s first with a Western nation and France’s first outside the European Union. Since then, ties have steadily expanded across defence, civil nuclear energy, space, technology, climate action and the Indo-Pacific.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France in July 2023 as Guest of Honour at the French National Day marked 25 years of the partnership. During the visit, both sides adopted the Horizon 2047 roadmap – a long-term blueprint aligned with the centenary of India’s independence and 100 years of diplomatic ties.
The reciprocal gesture followed when President Emmanuel Macron attended India’s 75th Republic Day in January 2024 as Chief Guest – an unprecedented exchange of national day honours.
In February 2025, the two leaders co-chaired the AI Action Summit in Paris, deepening cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital governance. India is now hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026, reflecting the growing tech dimension of the partnership.
Beyond leadership-level engagement, high-level ministerial visits, foreign office consultations, and strategic dialogues have maintained momentum across sectors including the Indo-Pacific, climate change, counter-terrorism, and multilateral reform.
Today, the India-France partnership is anchored in shared democratic values, strategic autonomy, and a mutual commitment to shaping a multipolar global order.
