The French and Indian leaders are showcasing Franco-Indian ties with a joint visit to Marseille, focusing on trade, nuclear energy, and defence cooperation.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are in the southern port city of Marseille this Wednesday, to praise partnership and cooperation between the two countries.
Paris views its collaboration with New Delhi as a powerful symbol of bilateral independence from dominant powers such as the United States and China.
Today's visit begins with the inauguration of the brand-new Indian Consulate General in Marseille – a move that reinforces India's presence in France.
But the true highlight of the day is a visit to the construction site of the groundbreaking ITER experimental nuclear fusion reactor in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, near France's flagship CEA nuclear research centre in Cadarache.
The ITER project – set to revolutionize energy production – sees India playing a crucial role, and the visit could pave the way for fresh cooperation on small modular reactors in the civil nuclear sector.
India and France agree on joint defence production
Imec trade corridor
While the original itinerary has been slightly adjusted – skipping a tribute to Indian soldiers who died in France in World War I at the Mazargues cemetery and a scheduled stop at the Port of Marseille – the two leaders "will also work on trade issues, particularly in the context of the development of the Imec corridor between Europe and India, and the increase in trade," according to the Elysée Palace.
The two leaders are doubling down on trade, particularly in relation to the ambitious Imec corridor, which aims to bolster connectivity between Europe and India.
“This corridor through the Middle East is an incredible catalyst,” Macron emphasised at a Franco-Indian business forum on Tuesday.
“We are ready to drive concrete projects and investment”.
Plans for developing port and energy sectors between the two countries are also on the table.
India speeds up imports of French jets as part of Indian Ocean defence build-up
'Special intimacy'
Beyond trade, Paris is eager to advance multi-billion euro negotiations on India's acquisition of French Rafale marine fighter jets and Scorpène submarines.
Macron’s decision to host Modi in his "city of the heart" underscores the warmth of their relationship.
In 2023, Modi was a guest of honour at France’s Bastille Day parade, highlighting the deepening ties between the two nations.
On Tuesday evening, the two leaders enjoyed a dinner by the Mediterranean in the town of Cassis, following their co-chairing of the Paris summit on artificial intelligence.
"India and France are two great powers and have a special intimacy that we respect. We want to work with the United States of America, we want to work with China, but we don't want to depend on anyone," the French president explained in a televised interview on Sunday.
"We want to be independent," he insisted, highlighting French strategy in the Indo-Pacific region.
On Tuesday, Narendra Modi gave assurances that their "partnership is not limited" to bilateral relations.
"We are working together to find solutions to the global challenges we face [and] strengthen our cooperation in all areas," Modi said, with India having nurtured a position of balance between the US, China and Russia.
After this Wednesday's visit to Marseille, Narendra Modi will fly to Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump.
