French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron landed in Mumbai, India, on Monday, February 16, 2026, for a key visit. Macron is here on a four-day visit to India until February 19, and will engage in talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the India-France strategic partnership.
Emmanuel Macron Visits India for the 4th Time and Mumbai for the 1st
Emmanuel Macron is on 4th visit to India after becoming the President of France in 2017, hinting at the growing ties between the two countries. Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar welcomed President Macron and the First Lady at the Mumbai airport on February 16.
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Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar were also present to greet Macron. Through an X post, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also confirmed their arrival and wished them a pleasant stay and a successful trip.
Why is Emmanuel Macron in India?
According to the Government of India’s press release on Monday, February 16, Macron is on an official visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister. He will be in India from 17 to 19 February, where he will participate in the AI Impact Summit hosted by India. Interestingly, India will unveil 12 indigenous foundation models trained in 22 official languages during the summit.
Also, Macron and Modi will hold a bilateral summit in Mumbai.
“President Emmanuel Macron will be on an official visit to India from 17-19 February 2026 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in the AI Impact Summit hosted by India, as well as hold a bilateral summit with the Prime Minister in Mumbai. This will be President Macron’s fourth visit to India and his first visit to Mumbai.”
Major Defense and Strategic Ties
Reports suggest that a key agenda of this visit is the potential procurement of 114 additional Rafale fighter jets. Notably, France is seeking to deepen its military ties with India, and recently, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the proposed Rs 3.25 lakh crore to purchase 114 Rafale fighters from France’s Dassault Aviation.
India has already ordered 26 Rafale jets for the Navy from France after buying 36 for its Air Force.
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The new visit may bring further collaboration as the meeting is supposed to focus on cementing the strategic partnership and diversifying into other emerging and new areas. Emmanuel Macron also hinted at the same with his X post enroute to India.
“On board with me: business leaders and the economic, industrial, cultural, and digital players who give real, tangible life to the ties between India and France. Together, we will go even further in our cooperation. See you tomorrow, my dear friend.
Emmanuel Macron’s India Schedule
Macron reached Mumbai on February 16 and is scheduled to hold Bilateral talks with PM Modi at Lok Bhavan to review the “Horizon 2047” roadmap at 3:15 PM, February 17. This discussion will focus on strengthening and diversifying the strategic partnership.
Also, they will exchange views on the regional and global issues, along with exploring new areas of collaboration.
At 5:15 PM, Macron and Modi will jointly inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation 2026. It is a joint initiative aimed at promoting collaborations among start-ups, business leaders, and innovators of both countries.
In the evening, they will participate in events at the Taj Mahal Palace and a cultural commemoration at the Gateway of India.
The next two days, February 18–19, will be spent in New Delhi to participate in the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, before Emmanuel departs.