Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to France for the G7 Summit and 'Bharat Innovates' launch, with a subsequent stop in Slovakia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a high-profile multi-nation tour to Europe, with the White House confirming a highly anticipated bilateral meeting between him and US President Donald Trump in France on June 17. The meeting, scheduled on the sidelines of the annual G7 Summit, marks the first face-to-face interaction between the two leaders in 16 months.

Diplomatic sources indicate that the dialogue will cover a vast spectrum of strategic interests, including defense procurement, bilateral trade bottlenecks, global security, and artificial intelligence cooperation. The two leaders last met in Washington in February 2025 during Modi’s state visit, shortly after Trump assumed his second presidential term. While they have maintained regular contact through at least three telephone conversations this year, the upcoming Paris dialogue is expected to set the tone for Indo-US ties amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Packed diplomatic schedule in France

According to details released by official channels, Trump will arrive in France on June 15, initiating a packed schedule of bilateral engagements starting with French President Emmanuel Macron. While the US President holds talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and West Asian leaders over the weekend, PM Modi’s arrival will coincide with both the G7 deliberations and distinct bilateral engagements designed to project India's rising economic footprint.

Focus on regional conflicts

The meeting comes at a time when the international community is navigating multiple overlapping security crises. Officials familiar with the matter noted that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and deteriorating security conditions in West Asia—specifically the Iran-Israel friction and instability along key maritime trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz—will feature heavily during the Modi-Trump discussions. India’s balanced diplomatic tightrope on the Eastern Europe conflict remains a point of intense interest for Washington.

Spotlighting 'Bharat Innovates' initiative

Apart from the G7 summit meetings in Evian, PM Modi, alongside President Macron, will inaugurate the 'Bharat Innovates' mega summit at the Palais des Expositions in Nice, running from June 14 to 16. The global initiative, conceptualized by India’s Ministry of Education, seeks to bridge Indian premier institutions like the IITs and IISc with global venture capitalists. The event underscores India's push to position its startup ecosystem as a prime destination for Western tech investments.

France's enduring strategic partnership

The choice of France as the host nation carries distinct bilateral weight for New Delhi. Over the last few decades, Paris has emerged as India’s second-largest defense supplier, trailing only Russia. Local diplomatic analysts point out that France’s defense relationship with India has historically remained resilient, even during periods of Western sanctions post the 1998 nuclear tests. The supply of Rafale fighters and Scorpene-class conventional submarines highlights the deep institutional trust between the two capitals.

Shifting dynamics of global forums

While India attends the G7 summit as an invitee nation, the event itself brings focus to the evolving relevance of the G7 versus the broader G20 platform. The G7, consisting of the US, France, UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada, focuses significantly on Western political-security alignments. However, experts point out that the G20, which includes emerging giants like India, Brazil, and China, has increasingly become the more effective vehicle for global economic governance, a sentiment previously echoed by Trump himself.

Next stop Bratislava

Following the conclusion of his engagements in France and the high-level meeting with Trump on Monday, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to fly to Bratislava, Slovakia. The central European visit is aimed at expanding India’s diplomatic and economic outreach in the region, with focus on engineering exports and manufacturing collaboration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in the French Riviera city of Nice on Saturday, as the two leaders sought to deepen the strategic partnership between India and France across technology, defence, and innovation. The meeting came on the first day of Modi’s six-day tour of France and Slovakia.

The leaders warmly embraced before jointly inaugurating the Bharat Innovates programme, a new global platform designed to connect Indian startups with international investors and experts.

Shared Vision Beyond Diplomacy

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Modi described the India-France relationship as one driven by “shared vision and common thinking.” He emphasised that the partnership extends far beyond trade and defence cooperation, being rooted in trust, democratic values, and a forward-looking approach to global challenges.

President Macron, in turn, hailed India as “a country of innovation” and a key partner in the Make in India initiative. He highlighted ongoing collaboration in defence, technology, artificial intelligence, and climate change, while expressing optimism about expanding ties in civilian nuclear energy, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

Spotlight on Startups and Youth

The Bharat Innovates event, running from June 14 to 16 at Palais des Expositions in Nice, brings together over 100 Indian startups with global venture capital funds. Modi noted that India is now home to more than 200,000 startups, many of which are addressing real-world problems in areas such as AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, and space technology.

The Prime Minister said young Indian entrepreneurs are no longer just consumers of technology but are emerging as solution providers for the world. The initiative aims to give Indian talent greater access to European and global investment networks.

Strong Defence and Strategic Ties

France has emerged as India’s second-largest defence supplier after Russia. Over the years, New Delhi has procured Mirage 2000 fighters, Rafale jets, and Scorpene submarines from Paris. French support remained steady even after India’s 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests when several Western nations imposed sanctions.

Macron has consistently backed India on global forums, including pushing for its permanent membership in the UN Security Council and entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

G7 Summit and Bilateral Engagements

Modi’s French visit includes participation in the G7 Summit in Evian from June 16-17, where he is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump — their first in 16 months. The summit agenda is likely to cover the Ukraine conflict, Middle East tensions including the Strait of Hormuz, and artificial intelligence.

Sources indicated that discussions on a possible multilateral security arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz could see progress, with India favouring a UN-aligned framework involving partners like France and Britain.

On June 14 evening, the Prime Minister will travel to Slovakia for meetings with Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini — the first visit by an Indian PM to the country since its independence in 1993.

Cultural Connect and People-to-People Ties

A cultural programme marked the visit in Nice, where members of the Indian community greeted the Prime Minister warmly. Women from the diaspora also had the opportunity to interact with him. Modi is scheduled to visit Evian and Paris later in the tour, culminating with the VivaTech conference alongside Macron.

This marks Modi’s seventh visit to France as Prime Minister, underscoring the consistent priority both nations attach to the relationship.

Looking Ahead

As geopolitical uncertainties rise, the India-France partnership is seen as a pillar of stability. Cooperation in emerging technologies and clean energy is expected to gain further momentum in the coming months, with both sides committed to translating shared goals into tangible outcomes for their citizens and the wider world.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Bharat Innovates programme in Nice alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, highlighting innovation, investment, and India-France cooperation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attended the Bharat Innovates programme in Nice, France, marking a key engagement during his ongoing visit to the European nation. The event, inaugurated alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, brought together startups, investors, venture capital firms, research institutions and technology leaders from India, France and several other countries.

The Bharat Innovates programme is aimed at strengthening collaboration in innovation, emerging technologies and investment while creating new opportunities for startups and research-driven enterprises. The initiative is also being seen as an important step in deepening economic and technological ties between India and France.

Focus on Innovation

Held at the Palais des Expositions in Nice, the programme serves as a platform for connecting Indian startups, educational institutions and research organisations with global investors and industry leaders. Officials associated with the event said the initiative seeks to accelerate innovation-led partnerships and encourage cross-border investment in high-growth sectors.

Before the formal launch, Prime Minister Modi interacted with investors and representatives of venture capital funds participating in the summit. Discussions reportedly focused on technology-driven growth, entrepreneurship and expanding collaboration between innovation ecosystems in the two countries.

Warm Welcome in Nice

Modi arrived in France late on Saturday night (IST) and received a warm reception from members of the Indian diaspora gathered outside his hotel. Cultural performances were organised as part of the welcome ceremony, reflecting India's diverse traditions.

During the interaction, the Prime Minister spent time greeting community members and was seen affectionately interacting with a young child. Many members of the diaspora also expressed their enthusiasm about his visit, with several families attending the event despite the late hour.

The visit marks Modi's seventh trip to France since assuming office in 2014, underlining the growing strategic significance of the bilateral relationship.

Key Engagements Ahead

The Prime Minister's France visit is part of a broader six-day tour covering France and Slovakia from June 13 to June 18. During the French leg, he is scheduled to visit Nice, Evian and Paris.

A major engagement on the itinerary is the G7 Summit in Evian, where Modi has been invited as a guest leader. The summit agenda is expected to include discussions on geopolitical tensions, global economic cooperation, artificial intelligence, maritime security and developments in the Middle East.

Officials have indicated that the Prime Minister will hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit. Among the closely watched interactions is an expected meeting with US President Donald Trump, which would be their first in-person engagement in over a year.

Slovakia Visit

Following engagements in France, Modi will travel to Slovakia, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini. The visit is significant as it marks the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since the country became independent in 1993.

Diplomatic observers view the visit as part of India's broader effort to strengthen engagement with European partners beyond the continent's major powers.

Strategic Partnership Expands

India and France have steadily expanded cooperation across defence, space, energy, technology and education. France remains one of India's key strategic partners and a major defence supplier.

The two countries have also worked closely on global issues, including climate action, maritime security and reform of international institutions. France has repeatedly expressed support for India's aspirations for a greater role in global governance forums.

With Bharat Innovates bringing together innovators, investors and policymakers, officials hope the initiative will add a new dimension to the partnership by fostering deeper collaboration in entrepreneurship and advanced technologies.

As discussions continue in Nice and the G7 Summit approaches, the Bharat Innovates programme is expected to remain a focal point of India's innovation diplomacy and its growing engagement with global technology ecosystems.