India and France agree to double trade and expand defence ties at Modi-Macron summit

On 14 June in Nice, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron met and launched the "India Innovates 2026" programme, issuing 13 joint outcomes that span trade, defence, nuclear energy, technology and people‑to‑people links.

The two sides set a target to double annual bilateral trade from about $16 billion to $32 billion within five years, creating a high‑level mechanism and an economic‑security dialogue. They agreed to extend India's UPI payment network to Paris and Nice airports and to deepen cooperation on high‑speed rail, AI and a joint Innovation Roadmap 2030. A defence deal was confirmed that will see India acquire 114 Dassault Rafale fighters, while civilian nuclear collaboration will include small‑modular reactors under a new "peace act" framework. The leaders also pledged to strengthen supply‑chains for critical minerals and to work together on space, aerospace and private‑sector innovation programmes.