Macron Confirms February Visit to India for AI Impact Summit, Reaffirms Strategic Partnership

New Delhi, Jan 2026 : French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that he will visit India in February to participate in the AI Impact Summit, underscoring the growing convergence between New Delhi and Paris on emerging technologies and global governance. The announcement came as Macron addressed the Diplomatic Corps in Paris, during which he reflected on the achievements of French diplomacy in 2025 and highlighted cooperation with India as a key success.

Referring to the global Artificial Intelligence summit hosted in Paris last year, Macron said that the event marked a major step forward in shaping international dialogue on AI. “The whole world came to Paris. We made progress on this, and we co-chaired it with Prime Minister Modi. Next month, I’ll be in India to follow up,” he said, confirming his participation in the upcoming summit in New Delhi.

Macron’s remarks align with earlier statements by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who had indicated that India was expecting the French President soon. During his recent interaction with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Jaishankar underlined the importance of India and France working closely on global issues, noting their shared commitment to multipolarity and strategic autonomy. According to Indian officials, cooperation between the two countries extends beyond bilateral interests and contributes to stability in global politics.

Earlier this week, Jaishankar met President Macron in Paris, where the two leaders reaffirmed the depth of the India–France strategic partnership and exchanged views on contemporary geopolitical and economic challenges. Posting on social media platform X after the meeting, Jaishankar said he was “delighted to call on President Emmanuel Macron” and conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while appreciating Macron’s positive sentiments towards the partnership.

India and France share a long-standing strategic relationship that spans defence cooperation, space exploration, civil nuclear energy, clean and renewable energy, and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. Both countries have consistently described their partnership as a stabilising force in an increasingly complex and multipolar world.

The India–AI Impact Summit 2026 was formally announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the France AI Action Summit and is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on February 19 and 20. The event will be the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, reflecting India’s ambition to shape inclusive and equitable frameworks for artificial intelligence.

Ahead of the summit, Prime Minister Modi chaired a roundtable discussion with Indian AI startups at his residence in New Delhi. During the interaction, he urged startups to ensure that their AI models are ethical, unbiased, transparent, and firmly grounded in data privacy principles. Modi also encouraged innovators to aim for global leadership from India, stressing that the country can champion affordable, inclusive, and frugal AI solutions worldwide.

Highlighting the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, the Prime Minister said AI could play a crucial role in driving social and economic change, positioning India as a key contributor to the global AI ecosystem.