politics
February 18, 2026
India and France Announce ‘Special Global Strategic Partnership’
India and France have signed 20 agreements covering defense, trade, and critical minerals
TL;DR
- India and France have declared a 'special global strategic partnership'.
- Twenty agreements were signed, spanning defense, trade, and critical minerals.
- Discussions included enhanced defense ties and collaboration in space.
- A 'Made in India' final assembly line for Tata-Airbus H125 Helicopters was virtually inaugurated.
- New agreements cover reciprocal deployment of officers between armies and cooperation in critical minerals.
- Indo-French Centers for AI in Health, Digital Science and Technology, and Skilling in Aeronautics were launched.
- France is India's third-largest EU trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $15 billion in 2025.
- Further Indian purchases of Rafale fighters were discussed.
- French President Macron will attend an AI Impact Summit in Delhi.