Macron bids warm farewell to PM Modi at Paris departure
Synopsis
Emmanuel Macron's farewell to PM Modi in Paris was anything but protocol — the French President recorded a personal message in Hindi, reminded Modi of a February India visit promise, and shared a Bollywood-soundtracked video that went viral. The send-off captures how the India-France relationship has evolved from strategic alliance to something visibly personal at the leadership level.
Key Takeaways
French President Emmanuel Macron bid a warm farewell to PM Narendra Modi in Paris on 18 June , ahead of Modi's return to New Delhi .
Macron recorded a special video message in Hindi for Modi, calling the India-France friendship 'immortal'.
Macron confirmed he will visit India in February , honouring a commitment made to Modi.
PM Modi's France visit spanned Nice , Evian (G7 Summit), and Paris (VivaTech Summit), following a stop in Slovakia .
Macron earlier shared a Bollywood-soundtracked video of Modi's visit that went viral on social media.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, 18 June bid a warm personal farewell to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Paris, as the Indian leader prepared to depart for New Delhi after a multi-city visit to France and Slovakia. The send-off, marked by an exchange of warm words and a hug, underscored the deepening personal bond between the two leaders.
What Macron and Modi Said
'Spending all these days, between Nice, Evian and Paris, it means a lot to me,' Macron told Modi at the farewell.
Modi, in turn, reminded the French President of an outstanding commitment: 'You also have to complete your promise now. In February in India, you have to come with extra time.' Macron responded warmly — 'In February, I took the commitment I will come just for you, thank you, take care' — before the two leaders exchanged a hug ahead of Modi's departure.
Macron's Hindi Video Message
Earlier on Thursday, Macron recorded a special farewell video message in Hindi for the Indian Prime Minister — a gesture that drew considerable attention for its personal touch. 'Dear friend Narendra, I am very happy that you are in Nice, Evian, or Paris. I am very happy to welcome you here. The friendship between India and France is immortal,' Macron said in Hindi before switching to English.
In English, the French President added: 'My dear Narendra, dear Prime Minister, I wanted to thank you so much for your friendship... France loves you... I am so happy you are here with so many friends before going back to Delhi. I will come to visit you next February, but you are my true friend... We love you. Take care.'
A Visit Across Three Cities
Prime Minister Modi had arrived in Nice on Saturday at the personal invitation of President Macron. He subsequently travelled to Evian for the G7 Summit before heading to Paris for the Paris VivaTech Summit. The visit also followed a leg in Slovakia, making it a significant multi-stop European engagement.
On the previous Sunday, Macron had shared a video glimpse of Modi's visit set to a recent Bollywood soundtrack — a move that turned a bilateral diplomatic engagement into a viral social media moment, reflecting the informal warmth the two leaders have cultivated over several years.
India-France Ties in Focus
The farewell comes at a moment when India-France relations are being consolidated across defence, technology, and strategic partnership fronts. Macron's commitment to visit India in February — if fulfilled — would mark another high-profile bilateral summit, building on a relationship that has grown steadily since the signing of the Strategic Partnership between the two nations. The personal chemistry on display in Paris is widely seen as a diplomatic asset for both sides.
Point of View
The three-city itinerary, the February visit pledge: taken together, they suggest Paris is investing heavily in the personal dimension of the India-France partnership at a time when New Delhi's strategic weight is being courted from Washington to Brussels. The question is whether this warmth translates into concrete deliverables — on defence supply chains, technology transfer, or the India-EU trade deal — or remains an optics exercise that photographs well but moves little on the ground.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Macron record a message in Hindi for PM Modi?
French President Emmanuel Macron recorded a personal farewell video message in Hindi for PM Narendra Modi on 18 June as a gesture of personal warmth ahead of Modi's departure from Paris. The move was widely seen as reflecting the close personal bond the two leaders have developed over several years of diplomatic engagement.
What did Macron promise PM Modi at the Paris farewell?
Macron reaffirmed a commitment to visit India in February, telling Modi: 'In February, I took the commitment I will come just for you.' Modi had reminded Macron of this pledge during the farewell, asking him to come with 'extra time.'
Which cities did PM Modi visit during his France trip?
PM Modi visited three cities in France — Nice, Evian, and Paris. He arrived in Nice on Saturday at Macron's invitation, attended the G7 Summit in Evian, and concluded his France visit in Paris for the VivaTech Summit. The trip also included a prior stop in Slovakia.
What was the Bollywood video Macron shared about PM Modi's visit?
On Sunday, President Macron shared a video glimpse of PM Modi's visit set to a recent Bollywood soundtrack. The clip went viral on social media, drawing attention to the informal and personal nature of the bilateral engagement between the two leaders.
What is the current state of India-France relations?
India and France share a Strategic Partnership that covers defence, technology, space, and economic cooperation. The visible personal chemistry between Modi and Macron is seen as reinforcing this alliance, with Macron's planned February visit to India expected to further cement bilateral ties.
