New Delhi: An agreement on small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), discussions on military aircraft, aircraft engines, and submarines, a bilateral roadmap for artificial intelligence and talks surrounding the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) are key outcomes expected from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France next week.
“A concrete announcement on SMRs is expected… There have been consistent engagements by concerned working groups on civil nuclear cooperation,” a diplomatic source said Friday.
Modi is set for a three-day visit to France from 10 to 12 February, during which he will also co-chair the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit along with French President Emmanuel Macron, followed by bilateral talks between the two leaders.
In 2023, during Modi’s last visit to France, the leaders had agreed on the Horizon 2047 roadmap, which saw the two countries acknowledge the role of nuclear power in the fight against climate change. Under Horizon 2047, the two sides agreed to establish a partnership for small and advanced modular reactors.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a Nuclear Energy Mission in her Union Budget speech last Saturday, and allocated Rs 20,000 crore for the development of SMRs. The finance minister also announced five indigenously-built SMRs were expected by 2033, to aid India’s energy transition.
SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power-generating capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per individual unit, which is roughly one-third the size of a traditional nuclear power plant reactor. Only two countries have been able to install and operate such reactors—China and Russia. However, a number of countries, including France and India, are looking at the deployment of such reactors as part of the larger drive for sustainable energy.
Modi will be in Paris for the AI summit, before continuing to Marseille, where the two leaders are set to inaugurate India’s new consulate in the southern French city.
Another outcome from the visit is an expected announcement declaring 2026 as the France-India Year of Innovation, which could potentially see Macron visit India to inaugurate the programme for the year, according to diplomatic sources.
Extensive discussions on defence ties
Modi’s sixth trip follows French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India last year as chief guest for the Republic Day parade. This time, the two leaders are also set to engage extensively on the entire gamut of their defence partnership.
“Aircrafts, engines, submarines, are all subjects under active discussions,” said the diplomatic source. The French government, through its military sales to India, including the Rafale fighter jets and six Scorpène class submarines, have been one of the few governments open to the transfer of technology to New Delhi.
Negotiations for the EUR 7 billion deal for 26 Rafale marine fighters have been completed, but it is unlikely to be signed during Modi’s visit. A likelier date is when French defence minister Sébastien Lecornu will be in India in April, as reported by ThePrint.
There are also ongoing negotiations for three additional Scorpène class submarines, which are expected to be inked soon.
Talks between Modi and Macron will likely include expanding the joint-operational exercises conducted by the two armed forces. Last month, the French carrier strike group (CSG) carried out the annual bilateral Exercise Varuna with the Indian Navy in India’s west coast.
AI roadmap, Marseille to Mumbai connectivity
The IMEC connectivity project, first announced on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi in 2023, is also expected to figure in talks. Paris is the only country to have appointed a special envoy to look after the connectivity project.
“Mumbai and Marseille will be the two ends of the corridor (IMEC). Talks on the corridor will be high on the agenda,” said diplomatic sources. The project envisions a route connecting India’s West coast to Europe via West Asia.
India and the United Arab Emirates have also been coordinating on the corridor project. However, due to the situation in West Asia, progress has been slower than expected. France has appointed Gérard Mestrallet as the President’s special envoy for IMEC.
India’s intent to open a consulate in Marseille was announced during Modi’s visit to France in 2023.
Sources said India and France would likely announce their own bilateral AI roadmap, separate from the international summit taking place in Paris, as part of the two strategic partners’ vision to deepen and broaden areas of cooperation. Another sector on the agenda is space, which may see some joint announcements between New Delhi and Paris later this year.
Modi’s visit to France comes ahead of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to India later this month. The European Commission President will be bringing most of the College (cabinet) of Commissioners as the European Union (EU) looks to strengthen its partnership with India, especially with the return of President Donald Trump.
While bilateral ties between India and France are independent of New Delhi’s relationship with Brussels, components of the EU relationship are expected to also be discussed by Modi and Macron ahead of von der Leyen’s visit.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)