Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun his two-nation visit to France and the United States. The visit focuses on the inclusive use of artificial intelligence (AI) and strengthening India’s partnership with these countries. His journey started on Monday, and he has already arrived in France, where he will participate in important discussions about AI and bilateral relations.

AI Summit in France

PM Modi is co-chairing the AI Action Summit in Paris on Tuesday along with French President Emmanuel Macron. The summit, which is the third of its kind, will bring together world leaders and top technology executives to discuss the safe and trustworthy use of AI. Notable attendees include US Vice President JD Vance, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and Google’s Sundar Pichai.

Modi, in a statement before his departure, said, “We will exchange views on a collaborative approach to AI technology for innovation and larger public good in an inclusive, secure, and trustworthy manner.” The summit will also see the launch of an AI Foundation to promote responsible AI development.

Following the summit, Modi and Macron will travel to the port city of Marseille, where they will hold bilateral talks. They will also inaugurate a new Indian consulate on February 12. This move is seen as a step towards strengthening India-France relations. The two leaders will also review progress on the 2047 Horizon Roadmap for the India-France strategic partnership.

PM Modi will also visit the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, which is focused on generating clean energy. India is a part of this project along with France and several other countries.

Apart from AI and clean energy cooperation, both countries are expected to unveil a roadmap for AI collaboration and discuss the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for nuclear energy. According to officials familiar with the planning, discussions on civil nuclear cooperation will also take place.

Additionally, Modi will visit the Mazargues War Cemetery to pay tribute to Indian soldiers who died in World Wars 1 and 2.

Modi’s visit to the US

After completing his engagements in France, PM Modi will travel to the United States on February 12. This will be his first meeting with US President Donald Trump in his second term. Modi and Trump share a strong working relationship, and Modi recalled this by saying, “I look forward to meeting my friend, President Trump. Although this will be our first meeting following his historic electoral victory and inauguration in January, I have a very warm recollection of working together in his first term in building a comprehensive global strategic partnership between India and the US.”

Modi emphasised that the visit will provide an opportunity to build upon previous successes and explore further cooperation in areas such as technology, trade, defence, energy, and supply chain resilience. He stated, “We will work together for the mutual benefit of the people of our two countries and shape a better future for the world.”

A key issue that may come up during Modi’s talks with Trump is the recent deportation of 104 illegal Indian migrants from the US. The deportees arrived in Amritsar on an American military flight, and images of them in handcuffs and shackles caused public outrage in India. The Indian government has expressed concerns about the treatment of the deportees, especially the shackling of women. Reports suggest that the US is in the process of deporting around 600 more illegal Indian migrants, including 96 whose nationality has already been confirmed by India.

Apart from immigration issues, trade and investment discussions will also be on the agenda. Trump has urged India to buy more US-made defence equipment and move towards a “fair bilateral trading relationship.” The two leaders recently had a phone call where Trump emphasised increasing trade between the two nations.

During Trump’s first term, Modi visited the US twice in 2017 and 2019. He was also one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump after his election victory last year. After Trump’s inauguration, Modi once again reached out to congratulate him, and both leaders agreed to meet soon. India was represented at Trump’s inauguration by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

This visit is expected to strengthen India’s relations with both France and the United States, particularly in the fields of AI, clean energy, trade, and defense. With growing partnerships in technology and strategic areas, India aims to play a crucial role in shaping the global future.

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