Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held a bilateral meeting in Nice on Sunday, where they launched the “Bharat Innovates 2026” programme and discussed deeper cooperation in defence, technology and energy, officials said. The two leaders also visited Villa Kérylos, a historic seaside villa near Nice, underscoring the cultural and strategic warmth between New Delhi and Paris.

Quick summit in Nice

Modi arrived in Nice on the evening of June 13 for a six-day state visit to France and Slovakia. The bilateral meeting with Macron took place on Sunday morning at a government venue in Nice, with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri accompanying the Prime Minister, government sources said. Macron greeted Modi with a warm hug before the talks, and later shared a selfie from their visit on social media.

Agenda and agreements

According to officials, the leaders focused on boosting cooperation across defence, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, space technology, health-tech and investment. They jointly launched Bharat Innovates 2026 — a platform intended to connect Indian startups, research institutions and universities with French and other global investors and partners. The programme will run from June 14–16 at the Palais des Expositions in Nice and features over 100 Indian startups alongside venture capital funds from Europe.

“Bharat Innovates aims to turn India’s talent into global partnerships,” a source familiar with the matter said, describing the event as an effort to channel European capital and expertise into India’s fast-growing innovation ecosystem.

Ground-level scenes

A cultural programme and receptions for members of the Indian diaspora followed the formal events at Modi’s hotel in Nice. Local reports from Nice said a visible Indian community turnout greeted the Prime Minister, with delegations of women community leaders meeting him during the day. Late in the afternoon, Macron escorted Modi to Villa Kérylos, one of the Mediterranean coast’s well-known historic houses.

Technology and AI cooperation

Macron reiterated France’s support for open, multilingual and collaborative AI models, officials said. The two sides discussed a framework for research collaboration in quantum computing, biotechnology and AI safety standards. France and India also signalled interest in joint projects on semiconductors and critical technologies, reflecting shared concerns over supply chains and technological sovereignty.

Defence and energy ties

Defence cooperation — a longstanding pillar of India-France relations — was another focus. France remains one of India’s top suppliers of defence equipment, having provided platforms such as Mirage fighters and Scorpene submarines. Officials suggested discussions covered technology transfers and joint development projects. Macron highlighted joint work through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and projects including civil nuclear cooperation, pointing to energy and climate goals as an area of growing convergence.

Regional security and Hormuz

Sources said the question of security in the Strait of Hormuz, amid tensions in the Gulf, featured in talks. New Delhi has expressed preference for multilateral security mechanisms under United Nations frameworks rather than single-country initiatives. Officials indicated that India could consider participation in a coalition aligned with France and Britain if arrangements adhere to international law and multilateral norms.

Looking ahead: G7 and bilateral meetings

Modi’s short French leg precedes his participation in the G7 Summit at Evian on June 17, where he is scheduled to meet other leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, officials confirmed. The Nice meetings set a tone for Modi’s engagement in Evian, where geopolitical crises, energy security and AI will dominate the agenda.

Context and significance

This visit is Modi’s seventh to France since becoming Prime Minister and comes at a time when New Delhi is pitching itself as a solutions provider rather than a consumer of technology. In his address in Nice, Modi emphasised India’s vast startup base — more than 200,000 companies by his count — and framed Bharat Innovates as a bridge between Indian innovators and global capital. Macron, for his part, praised India’s growing role in global research and said many countries now want to partner with India on innovation.

Next steps

Bharat Innovates will continue through mid-June in Nice, with further sessions planned in Evian and Paris. New announcements on joint projects and investment commitments are expected during the G7 meetings and at the VivaTech conference in Paris later in the visit.