New Delhi, Feb 17 (EFE). - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron meet this Tuesday in the financial city of Mumbai with a $42.8 billion defense package on the table. Both leaders kicked off the meeting in India's financial capital with an effusive hug before beginning talks on cutting-edge weaponry and artificial intelligence. This meeting aims to finalize the modernization plans approved by the Indian government last week to reduce the historic dependence on Russian arms supplies. According to the Indian Ministry of Defense, the acquisition plan includes 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Navy and the tender for another 114 combat aircraft. The magnitude of the deal far exceeds any single purchase previously made by New Delhi from its traditional suppliers in Russia or the United States. Sovereignty in artificial intelligence and the development of critical technologies to counter the dominance of external powers are at the heart of the digital aspect of the meeting on the eve of the global summit. Both leaders will discuss the creation of a sovereign computing infrastructure that would allow India to lead in the creation of algorithms rather than just be a consumer. The agenda also includes technology transfer for the local manufacturing of aviation engines and the construction of three new Scorpene-class submarines in Indian shipyards. The military relationship between the two nations dates back to the 1998 strategic partnership agreement, which made Paris India's most stable European ally. This trust was translated into the 2016 contract under which India acquired 36 Rafale fighter jets, which are now successfully operating at its Air Force bases. Photo EFE
