France–India Pivot to AI: From Rafale Diplomacy to a 21st-Century Innovation Compact
Macron’s February 2026 visit to India, following the EU–India FTA, signals a strategic shift in France–India ties toward AI and innovation while retaining a strong defense-industrial backbone. The partnership is positioned as a strategic-autonomy platform in the Indo-Pacific and global governance, with manageable frictions around China, Russia, and procurement competition.