The North News
New Delhi, September 23
French Diplomat Anne-Marie Descôtes held talks with India’s top officials including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary P. K. Mishra, and Shashi Tharoor, who heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. Discussions centred on the war in Ukraine, the crisis in Gaza, and counter-terrorism cooperation, the official sources said.
Descôtes, Secretary General of France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, was in India for foreign office consultations aimed at strengthening Indo-French ties. She thanked the Indian government for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to President Emmanuel Macron to attend the AI Impact Summit scheduled for February 2026. The year 2026 will also be marked as the India-France Year of Innovation, with technology and innovation set to drive bilateral collaboration.
Talks between Descôtes and Foreign Secretary Misri reviewed civil nuclear energy, defence and security cooperation under the Indo-French strategic partnership. Both sides also exchanged views on international issues, emphasising efforts for peace in Ukraine and Gaza.
France reaffirmed its backing for a stronger EU-India partnership, following a joint communication released earlier this year. Paris has voiced support for concluding an ambitious trade agreement between the European Union and India.
