PrintFriendly
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi returned to India on 14 February 2025 after a successful four-day diplomatic tour (10-13 February) to France and the United States, reinforcing India’s strategic partnerships with both nations.
Visit to France
AI Action Summit: Strengthening AI Cooperation & Global Governance
In Paris, PM Shri Narendra Modi co-chaired the AI Action Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasizing the need for global AI governance to ensure ethical and inclusive development. He highlighted AI’s transformative role in health, education, and agriculture, while advocating investment in workforce skilling.
PM Shri Modi stressed that the world stood at the dawn of the AI age, where technology was reshaping global polity, economy, security, and society. He called for collective efforts to establish AI governance that upholds shared values, addresses risks, and builds trust. He emphasized that governance should not only manage risks but also promote innovation for global benefit, ensuring equitable AI access, especially for the Global South.
Referring to the India-France sustainability partnership, including the International Solar Alliance, PM Shri Modi highlighted the importance of joint innovation efforts. He announced that India will host the next AI Summit, reinforcing its commitment to AI development and regulation.
India’s Digital Public Infrastructure and AI Mission
PM Shri Modi highlighted India’s success in building Digital Public Infrastructure for 1.4 billion citizens, based on open and accessible technology. He also spoke about India’s AI Mission, including efforts to develop its own Large Language Model tailored to its diversity. He reaffirmed India’s readiness to share its AI expertise to ensure widespread benefits.
Honoring Indian Soldiers & Strengthening Bilateral Ties
PM Shri Modi and President Mr. Macron paid tribute to Indian soldiers at the
Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseille, honoring those who fought in the World Wars. They also inaugurated the new Indian Consulate in Marseille, improving consular services for the Indian diaspora.
Additionally, the two leaders reviewed the 2047 Horizon Roadmap, reaffirming their commitment to bilateral cooperation in technology, defense, and economic development. Their visit to the ITER nuclear fusion project in Cadarache underscored their shared vision for advancing scientific research and clean energy solutions.
Prime Minister’s Successful Visit to the United States
The Prime Minister on 13 February, 2025 concluded a highly substantive and productive visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump. This marked the Prime Minister’s first visit to the U.S. following President Trump’s second-term inauguration.
Strengthening U.S.-India Ties: Key Outcomes of the Prime Minister’s Washington Visit
During his visit to Washington, D.C., on February 12, the Prime Minister engaged in high-level meetings, including discussions with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and business leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
Strategic and Economic Cooperation
Extensive talks at the White House covered defense, trade, technology, and global issues, culminating in the launch of the U.S.-India Compact for the 21st Century to enhance bilateral cooperation. The leaders unveiled Mission 500, aiming to double two-way trade to $500 billion by 2030, and committed to negotiating a multi-sector trade agreement by fall 2025. Indian firms pledged over $7 billion in U.S. investments.
Defense and Security
A new 10-year defense partnership (2025-2035) will be finalized, focusing on procurement, co-production, and technology exchange. The U.S. pledged to review arms transfer regulations and streamline defense trade. The Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance was launched to boost collaboration in autonomous defense technologies.
Technology and Innovation
The U.S.-India TRUST Initiative will drive cooperation in AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, and biotechnology. A Strategic Mineral Recovery Initiative was launched to strengthen critical mineral supply chains. The Indus Innovation Bridge will facilitate joint ventures in space and energy. The two sides committed to a U.S.-India AI Roadmap by year-end.
Energy and Climate
The U.S. and India agreed to collaborate on hydrocarbon trade, energy price stability, and nuclear energy, with progress on deploying U.S.-designed nuclear reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs) in India. A new NSF-ANRF partnership will deepen research cooperation in emerging energy technologies.
Education and Mobility
With 300,000 Indian students in the U.S., both sides committed to expanding academic partnerships and encouraging U.S. university campuses in India. Visa processes will be streamlined to facilitate student and professional mobility while enhancing efforts to combat illegal immigration and trafficking.
This visit reinforced the U.S.-India strategic partnership, setting the stage for deeper collaboration in defense, trade, and technology. The two nations will convene partners under IMEC and I2U2 within six months and launch the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture to advance regional connectivity and commerce.