‘Cooperative AI’ on the table as Modi, Macron aim to deepen ties

Both sides announce 13 outcomes, including setting up high-level mechanism to double bilateral trade in 5 years, writes Archis Mohan

- Archis Mohan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held bilateral talks in Nice on Sunday, when they committed themselves to deepening bilateral ties between the two countries across an array of sectors, including defence, emerging technology, and civil nuclear energy.

The two sides announced 13 outcomes, including setting up a high-level mechanism to double bilateral trade in five years and establish an economic security dialogue. The bilateral trade between India and France has more than doubled in the last decade to $15.81 billion in 2025-26.

In the defence sector, the two leaders said the focus of collaboration should be on co-design, co-development and co-production of defence platforms and advanced technologies. They also discussed ways to expand private sector collaboration in space. In civil nuclear energy, they noted that India's SHANTI Act creates new opportunities for collaboration, including on small and advanced modular reactors.

Earlier in the day, Modi and Macron inaugurated the ‘Bharat Innovates’ event in Nice. Macron called for deeper cooperation with India on artificial intelligence to build a cooperative AI.