From Rafales to submarines: Emmanuel Macron plans to deepen defence cooperation with India

Rafale Fighter Jet

• India and France plan to expand Rafale jet orders
• Make in India to be central in future defence co-production
• Macron hopes for similar progress in naval defence projects

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Emmanuel Macron on Thursday underlined plans to deepen defence cooperation with India, saying both countries want to expand orders of Dassault Rafale jets and boost co-production under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Highlighting the depth of bilateral ties, Emmanuel Macron said, "We don't just have strategic partnership, we have a special global strategic partnership, which is unique both for India, and France."

On the Rafale programme, Emmanuel Macron said India had recently confirmed its willingness to order more aircraft. "On Rafale, what we want to do is to expand. So India confirmed few days ago its willingness to command a new bunch of Rafale."

VIDEO | Delhi: At India AI Summit, French President Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) says both France, and India want to expand on Rafale, and to co-produce, Make in India will be core in this new command. He says, "We don't just have strategic partnership, we have a special… pic.twitter.com/P7KZRwMlOx

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 19, 2026

Emmanuel Macron  also emphasised that local manufacturing would be central to future deals. "And to co-produce, so the Make in India will be core in this new command."

Calling it a significant milestone, Emmanuel Macron added, "So, it's a new step forward, clearly consolidating the existing one and going further. So, Rafale is absolutely key."

Looking beyond fighter jets, the French President expressed hope for similar progress in naval defence. "I hope we will do the same on submarines. We offered additional capacities and we are doing it as well on the entire hands and the entire by the way between Tata and Airbus. So, clearly the cooperation is improving and we are building a new era of cooperation."

The remarks signal a fresh push in India-France defence ties, with an emphasis on co-production, technology collaboration and long-term strategic alignment.