French President Emmanuel Macron touched down in Mumbai on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron, kicking off a three-day state visit to India. The French leader was received by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor Acharya Devvrat upon arrival.
The centrepiece of the visit is a high-stakes bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scheduled at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai at approximately 3:15 pm. At the top of the agenda is a potential multibillion-dollar deal for Dassault Rafale fighter jets a transaction that, if finalised, would mark the largest defence acquisition in India’s history.
A Historic Defence Deal in the Making
According to an NDTV report, India has approved a proposal valued at Rs 3.25 lakh crore to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF). While the PMO’s official statement stopped short of specifying the exact number of aircraft to be purchased, the deal is widely expected to include 114 jets. Negotiations with manufacturer Dassault Aviation are ongoing, though the French presidency has expressed confidence that what it has called a “historic” agreement could be sealed during the visit.
The new aircraft would add to India’s existing Rafale fleet the 36 jets acquired for the Air Force in 2016 and 26 already on order for the Navy.
A Wide-Ranging Strategic Agenda
Beyond defence, the Modi-Macron talks are set to span a broad spectrum of bilateral priorities, including space, nuclear energy, climate change, education, and emerging technologies. The Prime Minister’s Office stated that the two leaders would review progress under the India–France Strategic Partnership and identify new avenues for deeper cooperation, particularly in future-oriented sectors.
At around 5:15 pm, both leaders will jointly launch the India–France Year of Innovation 2026, addressing an audience comprising business leaders, startup founders, researchers, and innovators from both countries. Earlier in the day, at 12:30 pm, President Macron is expected to pay tribute to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Also Read: ‘Welcome To India, My Dear Friend’: PM Modi Greets Macron In Mumbai
The two leaders will also inaugurate India’s first helicopter final assembly line via videoconference a joint venture between the Tata Group and Airbus. Situated in Vemagal, near Bengaluru in Karnataka, the facility will produce the Airbus H125, the company’s best-selling single-engine helicopter.
AI Summit and Global Issues on the Table
President Macron will also participate in the AI Impact Summit, hosted by India on February 18 and 19, reflecting the growing emphasis on artificial intelligence cooperation between the two nations.
Discussions are additionally expected to address pressing global matters, including the situations in Ukraine and Gaza, stability in the Indo-Pacific, and the economic uncertainties arising from tariff policies under US President Donald Trump. China’s expanding regional influence is also likely to feature in the conversations. The PMO noted that the focus would remain on strengthening and diversifying the India–France strategic partnership into new and emerging domains.
Multiple agreements are anticipated to be signed over the course of Macron’s three-day visit, according to a TOI report.
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