Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to France for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris on February 10-11, 2025, carries significant implications for both technology and defence cooperation between the two nations.
While the AI summit itself holds great importance, the finalization of the Rafale Marine aircraft deal is expected to be a major highlight of the visit.
France, under President Emmanuel Macron, is hosting the AI summit to foster international dialogue on the role of AI in shaping the future. The summit will focus on harnessing AI for positive social, economic, and environmental impact.
PM Modi's participation underscores India's commitment to being a leader in AI innovation and governance, alongside global powers like the US, China, and various Gulf states. The summit will delve into critical themes such as public interest in AI, the future of work, innovation, culture, trust, and global AI governance, with a particular emphasis on mitigating issues like misinformation and the misuse of AI technologies.
However, running parallel to these crucial AI discussions is the anticipated finalization of the Rafale Marine deal. This landmark agreement, valued at approximately $7 billion, involves the purchase of 26 Rafale-M fighters for the Indian Navy.
These advanced jets will operate from India's aircraft carriers, significantly enhancing its maritime capabilities. The deal is expected to be signed during or just before Modi's visit, underscoring the growing strategic defence partnership between India and France.
The Rafale Marine jets are of critical importance to India's naval modernization strategy. They will provide the Indian Navy with cutting-edge capabilities for carrier operations, filling a crucial gap until India's indigenous twin-engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF) project reaches maturity.
With negotiations in the final stages, the Rafale-M deal is poised to be one of the most significant outcomes of Modi's visit to France. It represents a major step forward in Indo-French defence cooperation and highlights India's commitment to modernizing its armed forces with advanced technology.
