A video of Emmanuel Macron being welcomed at a hotel in Mumbai has gone viral, highlighting the role of cultural symbolism in his ongoing visit to India.
Footage shows the French president being received with a traditional Indian dance performance shortly after arriving in the city. Dancers in vibrant costumes can be seen at the entrance of the hotel, lending a distinctly Indian feel to the reception – an approach often used during high-level diplomatic engagements to showcase local heritage and hospitality.
The visuals drew further attention due to the presence of Narendra Modi, who is seen accompanying Macron during the welcome. Their joint appearance reflects the close personal and strategic relationship the two leaders have cultivated over the years, particularly in areas such as defense cooperation, climate initiatives and the Indo-Pacific framework.
President Macron shared the video on Instagram.
It comes as India and France on Tuesday upgraded their bilateral ties to a “special global strategic partnership”, pledging deeper cooperation in defence, trade and critical minerals. Modi and Macron described the relationship as a stabilizing force at a time of heightened global geopolitical uncertainty.
Referring to conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, as well as tensions in the Indo-Pacific, Modi said the two countries remain bound by democratic values, the rule of law and the pursuit of a multipolar world order.
“The world is going through a period of uncertainty. In such an environment, the India-France partnership is a force for global stability. We bring together French expertise and India’s scale,” Modi said in a media statement.
The Prime Minister added that the reform of global institutions is necessary to address international challenges and reaffirmed joint efforts to promote peace across regions, including Ukraine, West Asia and the Indo-Pacific. He also reiterated the commitment of both countries to eliminate terrorism in all its forms.
Echoing these sentiments, Macron said India and France would continue to work closely together in the fight against terrorism.
After the meeting in Mumbai, the two leaders also practically opened an assembly plant in Vemagal, Karnataka for the production of Airbus H125 helicopters – an initiative that is expected to strengthen India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
India and France have signed 21 agreements and cooperation documents covering sectors such as strategic minerals, defence, advanced technology, clean energy and healthcare. Among them was a defense cooperation pact and a joint initiative between Bharat Electronics Limited and French defense firm Safran to manufacture Hammer missiles in India. Another agreement focused on the mutual deployment of military officers between the Indian Army and the French ground forces.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron will visit India’s AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on February 18, the third day of his trip to the subcontinent.