French President Emmanuel Macronhas strongly defended India’s proposed purchase and co-production of 114 Rafale fighter jets, saying he does not see how the deal can be criticised as it would make India stronger, deepen strategic coordination with France and generate jobs in both countries. Speaking in New Delhi, Macron underscored that expanding indigenous manufacturing and increasing the share of Indian components will remain central to the agreement, positioning the mega defence plan as a cornerstone of the growing India-France strategic partnership.
Backing the proposed acquisition of 114 Rafale aircraft by India, Macron said the programme would prioritise co-production and local manufacturing under India’s “Make in India” push. He stressed that discussions between French companies and the Indian government are focused on maximising indigenous components and ensuring that more critical systems are manufactured within India.
“We are always increasing indigenous components. It’s part of the dialogue between the company and your government. I don’t see how people can criticise because it makes your country stronger, increases strategic coordination between us, and creates more jobs here,” Macron said, reiterating France’s commitment to boosting local production.
The French leader, who described India-France relations as being at their “highest point,” said the two countries now share a unique Special Global Strategic Partnership that continues to deepen across sectors, particularly defence. He noted that both nations have built strong ties over recent years through frequent high-level engagements and expanding military cooperation.
Macron said India has expressed willingness to place a fresh order for Rafale jets and pursue co-production, with maintenance, diversification and technology cooperation also expected to expand. He added that the two sides are exploring further collaboration in areas such as submarine development and aviation engines, calling defence a central pillar of bilateral ties.
Highlighting broader cooperation, Macron pointed to ongoing joint projects including the Airbus-Tata partnership to manufacture H-125 helicopters in India. He said such collaborations reflect a shared vision of strengthening industrial capacity, reducing dependency and boosting strategic autonomy in the Indo-Pacific.
On free speech, Macron said he supports open expression but warned against what he described as algorithm-driven amplification of hate or biased content. “Free speech means listening to each other in an equal relationship. When platforms spread hate speech or racist speech without transparency, that’s not free speech,” he said, calling for respect and accountability in digital discourse.
Macron also confirmed he has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state visit to France in June and as a special guest at the G7 Summit, signalling further high-level engagement. Emphasising the trajectory of ties, he said both countries aim to expand cooperation across defence, technology and artificial intelligence, while pushing for more inclusive and collaborative global governance frameworks.
Megha Rawat is an Assistant News Editor at Times Now, where she drives the national news narrative with sharp political reporting, election coverage a...View More
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