Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed Paris for New Delhi on 19 June, concluding what the Ministry of External Affairs described as a productive three-city visit to France — the third leg of a two-nation tour that also included Slovakia. The trip spanned Nice, Evian, and Paris, encompassing multiple summits, bilateral meetings with world leaders, and direct engagement with the Indian diaspora.

What the Visit Covered

The French leg began in Nice, where Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Bharat Innovates event at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. He then travelled to Evian for the G7 Summit, before arriving in Paris on Thursday to address VivaTech 2026 — one of Europe's largest technology and innovation conferences — and meet chief executives of France's leading companies. He also addressed a large gathering of the Indian community in Paris.

What the Government Said

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in an official statement that the visit 'added fresh momentum to the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership and reinforced the shared commitment to advancing cooperation across key sectors.' Jaiswal also posted on X: 'Merci France! PM @narendramodi wrapped up a productive visit to France, marked by wide-ranging engagements.'

Prime Minister Modi, writing on X, called the visit 'extensive when it comes to engagement and outcomes' and expressed gratitude to President Macron, the French government, and the people of France for 'the warmth.' He added: 'The India-France friendship will become even stronger in the times to come.'

Macron's Farewell in Hindi

In a notable diplomatic gesture, President Macron recorded a personal farewell video message in Hindi for the Indian leader. '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. 'My dear Narendra, dear Prime Minister, I wanted to thank you so much for your friendship... France loves you... I will come to visit you next February, but you are my true friend,' he added.

Diaspora Response and Bilateral Significance

Members of the Indian diaspora in Paris described meeting the Prime Minister as a 'proud and memorable moment', saying his presence made them feel 'connected to their homeland despite being thousands of miles away.' The India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership — formalised in earlier years — covers defence, space, nuclear energy, and digital technology. This visit reinforced that architecture at a moment when both nations are deepening multilateral coordination, including at the G7.

President Macron is expected to visit India in February, a timeline that signals the sustained high-frequency engagement between the two strategic partners.