Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to undertake a significant diplomatic tour of Europe from June 13 to 19, 2026, with official visits to France and Slovakia, along with participation in the G7 Summit 2026. The visit is expected to strengthen India's strategic partnerships, expand economic cooperation, and reinforce its growing influence on global issues.
The first leg of the tour will take PM Modi to France, where he is scheduled to hold extensive bilateral discussions with Emmanuel Macron. The talks are expected to cover the entire spectrum of the India–France relationship, including defence cooperation, technology partnerships, trade, investment, clean energy, space collaboration, and emerging technologies. The two countries have steadily deepened their ties over the years, and the discussions are likely to focus on advancing their Special Global Strategic Partnership, which has been elevated to the highest level of bilateral engagement.
A key highlight of the France visit will be the joint inauguration of the “Bharat Innovates” initiative by Modi and Macron. The platform aims to bring together startups, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capital funds, and innovation leaders from India, France, and other partner nations. Organised under the India–France Year of Innovation framework, the event is intended to accelerate collaboration in fields such as artificial intelligence, digital technologies, deep-tech innovation, and entrepreneurship while encouraging greater cross-border investment.
The second phase of the tour will see PM Modi travel to Slovakia for a historic state visit at the invitation of Robert Fico. The visit is particularly notable because it will be the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited Slovakia since the country's independence in 1993. During the visit, Modi will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Fico and also meet Peter Pellegrini.
The discussions in Slovakia are expected to focus on strengthening economic ties and identifying new areas of cooperation. Trade, investment, manufacturing, automotive production, railway technology, infrastructure development, and industrial partnerships are likely to feature prominently on the agenda. The visit follows a period of growing engagement between the two countries, including President Pellegrini's participation in the AI Impact Summit held in India earlier this year.
After completing his bilateral engagements, PM Modi will travel to Evian in France to participate in the G7 Summit. Although India is not a member of the G7 grouping, its regular participation as an invited nation reflects the country's increasing importance in global governance and international policymaking. At the summit, Modi is expected to contribute to discussions on global economic recovery, international cooperation, geopolitical stability, climate challenges, and the responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies.
The summit is also expected to provide opportunities for bilateral meetings with several world leaders. Particular attention is likely to focus on a possible meeting between Modi and Donald Trump amid ongoing trade-related discussions and broader strategic engagement between India and the United States.
The final stage of the visit will bring PM Modi back to Paris, where he is scheduled to participate in the internationally renowned VivaTech 2026, Europe's largest technology and startup exhibition. His participation is expected to showcase India's growing innovation ecosystem and strengthen partnerships with global technology companies, investors, and entrepreneurs.
Modi is also expected to interact with members of the Indian diaspora in France, acknowledging the important role played by overseas Indians in strengthening people-to-people ties and fostering closer relations between India and European nations.
According to the government, the visit reflects India's expanding engagement with Europe across strategic, economic, technological, and innovation-driven sectors. It also highlights India's increasing role in shaping discussions on global challenges and reinforces its position as a leading representative of the Global South on international platforms. The combination of bilateral engagements, innovation partnerships, and participation in the G7 Summit is expected to further enhance India's diplomatic influence and deepen its partnerships with key European countries.
