Opinion Express View on India-France ties: A stable partnership in a turbulent world

Talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, held this week on the sidelines of the multilateral AI Action Summit in Paris — co-chaired by the two leaders — signalled significant progress made in key areas. These include nuclear energy, defence cooperation and joint projects in third countries. Nuclear collaboration has emerged as a cornerstone of India-France ties. Both countries have committed to jointly developing nuclear reactors, as reflected in the signed letter of intent on small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors. France, a global leader in nuclear reactor technology, brings critical expertise to India’s expansion plans on nuclear energy. This aligns with the Indian government’s target of generating 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2047, as outlined in the 2025-26 Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. French energy giant Électricité de France (EDF) is already working with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India to develop next-generation reactors, including the Jaitapur nuclear plant, which is set to become the world’s largest with a proposed capacity of 9,900 megawatts.

This was PM Modi’s sixth visit to France, while President Macron last visited Delhi in January 2024 as the chief guest for India’s 75th Republic Day. India must leverage this special relationship while insulating it from systemic inefficiencies. Delhi’s defence procurement process, for instance, has long suffered from delays caused by red tape, policy revisions, and budgetary constraints — factors that have slowed down military modernisation. The ambitious Project-75(I), aimed at acquiring six next-generation submarines with advanced air-independent propulsion technology, has remained stalled due to vendor negotiations and policy shifts. The Scorpène-class submarines under Project-75(I), developed with French collaboration, have also faced setbacks and delays. Additionally, India and France’s nuclear energy cooperation is contingent on India reforming its laws to attract private and foreign investment that could provide much-needed incentives to American and French nuclear power companies, whose projects have remained in limbo due to legal uncertainties.

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Against the backdrop of an increasingly unpredictable global order, India and France need to maintain momentum in ties. US President Donald Trump has done little to assuage fears around his announcements and promises — most recently with respect to Ukraine and Europe’s security following his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Amid uncertainty, France has emerged as a reliable partner for India. The acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France in 2016 further cemented military ties, while joint naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific, such as Varuna, underscored a shared commitment to maritime security. France has consistently backed India on key global issues, including Delhi’s longstanding bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. Delhi and Paris must build on their strong bilateral ties and solidify their partnership as a pillar of stability in a global landscape that is becoming more erratic.