Modi-Macron meeting: Trade to AI; India, France set new targets

📌 Summary:

• PM Modi and French President Macron met in Nice (June 14) — their first meeting since ties were elevated to a "special global strategic partnership" earlier in 2026
• Agreed to set up a high-level mechanism to double bilateral trade from $16 billion within five years; called for early implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement
• Adopted an "Innovation Roadmap 2030" and agreed to create a Joint India-France AI Working Group on AI governance; launched a Dialogue on Economic Security focused on supply-chain resilience and critical minerals
• Defence: focus on co-design, co-development and co-production (Rafale, Scorpene submarines, Shakti helicopter engines; H125 helicopter Final Assembly Line at Vemagal, Karnataka by TASL-Airbus)
• Space: deepening six-decade ISRO-CNES cooperation on human spaceflight and space situational awareness; civil nuclear cooperation under India's SHANTI Act (small and advanced modular reactors)
• People-to-people: UPI expanding to Nice and Paris airports; visa-free transit for Indians; Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics at Kanpur; 19 institutional agreements signed
• Modi to attend the G7 Outreach at Evian-les-Bains (June 16-17) and VivaTech in Paris

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 IR — India's bilateral relations with major powers; strategic autonomy, defence indigenisation and critical-mineral supply chains.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• India-France ties elevated to "special global strategic partnership" (2026)
• ISRO's French counterpart is CNES; H125 helicopter FAL is at Vemagal, Karnataka (TASL-Airbus)
• SHANTI Act enables collaboration on small and advanced modular reactors

🔑 Key Term: Special Global Strategic Partnership — the highest tier of structured bilateral cooperation spanning defence, space, nuclear energy, technology and trade.