French President Emmanuel Macron met India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai to strengthen economic and strategic ties amid global uncertainty.

Their talks emphasized expanding cooperation beyond defense to trade, technology, energy, and space, with France positioning itself as a reliable European partner for India.

The leaders inaugurated India’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Karnataka, a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus.

Macron highlighted sectors like nuclear energy, aeronautics, rare earths, and high-speed trains, advocated for an EU-India free-trade agreement, and called for joint efforts to resolve conflicts including Russia’s war in Ukraine, the AP has reported.

Bilateral trade has surpassed $15 billion, and defense cooperation remains central, with India planning to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets and other military equipment from France.