France’s Defense Minister Delays India Visit Amid Regional Tensions

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu has deferred his scheduled April 27 trip to India, where he was set to finalize a €7 billion deal for 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets, according to defense sources. The postponement’s cause remains undisclosed, but it coincides with heightened security concerns in India following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam region that claimed numerous civilian lives.

The visit, planned over months, was intended to mark the conclusion of negotiations between India and France for the acquisition of Dassault Aviation’s carrier-capable Rafale Marine jets. The Indian Navy chose the French aircraft over Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet after extensive trials to upgrade its naval aviation capabilities. This decision underscores India’s strategic confidence in France and bolsters French defense exports.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the Pahalgam attack, calling it “totally unacceptable” and affirming France’s “full solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism.