Why in news?

France and India have significantly deepened their partnership since 1998, expanding cooperation in defence, nuclear energy, space, trade, and culture. Now, with AI as a new frontier, France has invited India to co-chair the AI Action Summit, reaffirming their global collaboration.

What’s in today’s article?

• Indo-France relationship in brief
• India at AI Summit: A Recognition of Its Growing Role
• New Delhi’s Focus at the AI Summit

Indo-France relationship in brief

• PM Modi and President Macron share a strong personal rapport, having met thrice in 2024, with Macron attending India’s Republic Day celebrations as Chief Guest.
• Enduring Diplomatic Relations
  • India-France ties are built on strategic autonomy and mutual respect. France has historically stood by India during critical moments:
    • In 1998, France refused to impose sanctions after India’s nuclear tests.
    • In 1976, Chirac visited India as PM during the Emergency, when India faced global isolation.
• Robust Defence Collaboration
  • India and France maintain a strong defence partnership, reviewed under the Annual Defence Dialogue and the High Committee on Defence Cooperation.
  • Major ongoing projects include:
    • Rafale fighter jet acquisitions, with discussions on purchasing 26 Rafale-M jets for the Indian Navy.
    • P-75 Scorpene Project, with plans for three additional submarines.
    • Co-development of next-generation fighter jet engines.
    • DRDO office in the Indian Embassy (opened in 2023) to enhance technology cooperation.
    • France’s commitment to “Make in India” and technology transfer sets it apart from competitors, with dedicated training programs for Indian personnel.
• Expanding Beyond Defence
  • Bilateral cooperation now extends to renewable energy, trade, supply-chain partnerships, and people-to-people relations. Key developments include:
    • India-France Innovation Year 2026 logo unveiling.
    • New Indian Consulate in Marseille to boost economic and cultural ties.
    • Marseille as a strategic data hub for global communications via undersea cables.
• Economic & Technology Partnerships
  • In 2023-2024, India and France's bilateral trade exceeded $15 billion for the first time.
  • India's exports to France increased to $7.14 billion, while imports from France increased to $7.97 billion.
  • During the current visit, PM Modi and President Macron will hold an India-France CEOs’ Forum, focusing on:
    • Make in India collaboration in renewable energy, defence, start-ups, and pharmaceuticals.
    • Triangular Development Cooperation Initiative for climate and SDG-focused projects in the Indo-Pacific.
    • ITER fusion project visit near Marseille, with India playing a key role in advancing fusion energy technology.

India at AI Summit: A Recognition of Its Growing Role

• India’s invitation to co-chair the AI Summit highlights its expanding influence in emerging technologies and Paris’s commitment to shared values.
• While China dominates AI globally, France’s choice underscores strategic alignments.
• The Summit, attended by key global leaders, offers India an opportunity to:
  • Promote inclusive and responsible AI development.
  • Address ethics, governance, and accessibility concerns.
  • Advocate for AI democratisation and its benefits for the Global South.
• Aims of the AI Summit
  • The Paris AI Summit builds on previous global efforts, including the UK Summit (November 2023) and the South Korea Summit (May 2024), to advance responsible AI governance.
• Key Outcomes from Previous Summits
• Bletchley Park Declaration (UK Summit): Affirmed AI should be safe, human-centric, trustworthy, and responsible.
• Seoul Declaration (South Korea Summit): Strengthened international cooperation on AI and proposed a network of AI Safety Institutes.
• Paris Summit Themes
  • The summit will focus on five main areas:
    • Public Interest AI
    • Future of Work
    • Innovation and Culture
    • Trust in AI
    • Global AI Governance

New Delhi’s Focus at the AI Summit

• IndiaAI Mission
  • India will showcase the IndiaAI Mission, a ₹10,371 crore initiative under the theme “Making AI in India and Making AI for India”.
  • The program aims to democratize AI innovation and ensure its equitable distribution among citizens.
• Focus on Global AI Cooperation
  • Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)
    • India is a founding member and lead chair of GPAI (2024), an OECD-backed initiative for responsible AI development.
    • India seeks to make GPAI the central platform for global AI cooperation.
  • Bridging the AI Divide
    • India is advocating inclusive AI governance to reduce disparities between AI-leading and AI-lagging nations.
    • The goal is to democratize AI and ensure fair access to AI advancements.
  • Prioritizing the Global South
    • India is pushing for greater representation of developing nations in AI discussions.
    • It highlights the unique challenges and opportunities of the Global South in AI governance.