Introduction
In a trip meant to bolster Franco-Indian ties, French President Emmanuel Macron’s February 2026 visit to India quickly devolved from promising economic partnerships into a showcase of globalist overreach, sovereignty erosion, and personal eccentricities. As anti-globalist voices in France grow louder, this episode underscores how oligarchic structures like the European Union (EU) undermine national independence, while Macron’s controversial remarks on freedom of expression ignite worldwide backlash.
For a foreign audience unfamiliar with France’s internal struggles, this visit highlights the tension between national pride and supranational control, raising questions about Macron’s fitness to represent the French people.
A Promising Start: Defense and Innovation Deals Amid Bilateral Ties
Macron arrived in Mumbai on February 17, 2026, kicking off a three-day visit focused on defense, technology, and trade. Accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron, he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The agenda included inaugurating an Airbus H125 helicopter assembly line near Bengaluru and launching the Franco-Indian Year of Innovation 2026. Key highlights included talks on expanding France’s Rafale fighter jet sales to India. Building on 62 existing acquisitions, negotiations advanced for an additional 114 jets in a potential €30-billion deal.
The visit also featured the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on February 18, where global leaders like Modi, Mukesh Ambani, Sam Altman, Sundar Pichai, and Macron emphasized AI cooperation. Macron praised India’s digital infrastructure, calling it a “civilisation story” unmatched globally.
These developments initially appeared as wins for French industry, promoting jobs and exports without overt controversy. Yet, as anti-oligarchy critics argue, such deals often serve elite interests, prioritizing corporate profits over national autonomy.
Source: RFI - France and India deepen strategic ties on first day of Macron’s official visit
The Language Betrayal: English Over French, an Assault on National Identity
From the outset, Macron abandoned French in favor of English or “Anglo-American,” as detractors call it in most speeches, except an initial one. This habit, increasingly common even in domestic addresses, sparked indignation as an attack on the French language and Constitution.
Critics view it as symbolic of globalist erosion, where national culture yields to a homogenized, elite-driven worldview. In a nation proud of its linguistic heritage, this choice humiliated France on the world stage, prioritizing accessibility for international oligarchs over sovereign representation.
Immigration Promises: Tripling Indian Students, But at What Cost to Sovereignty?
Macron pledged to triple Indian students in France to 30,000 by 2030, admitting past visa policies were “too inflexible.” He announced streamlined visas, post-study work opportunities, and English-taught courses to facilitate this.
While framed as educational exchange, skeptics warn it adds to unchecked immigration flows, pressuring wages and resources without public consent.
Crucially, this isn’t a purely French decision. It stems from the EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on January 26, 2026. The deal includes a Comprehensive Framework for Cooperation on Mobility, removing student quotas, enabling free movement across EU states, and fast-tracking visas (90% processed in 30 days).
It also facilitates post-study work visas for 12+ months, extendable to three years, and mutual qualification recognition, potentially flooding markets with foreign professionals under the guise of “skills alignment.”
Anti-globalists decry this as EU overreach, stripping France of border control. Macron parroted the agreement without disclosing its supranational origins, exemplifying how oligarchic Brussels dictates policy, undermining French sovereignty.
As one source notes, the FTA could double EU exports to India by 2032, but at the expense of national decision-making.
The Free Speech Bombshell: “Pure Bullshit” and the Push for Control
The trip’s defining controversy erupted on February 18 at the AI Summit, where Macron declared, “Free speech is pure bullshit if nobody knows how you are guided through this so-called free speech, especially when it is guided from one hate speech to another.”
Advocating “transparent algorithms” and “public order” over unrestricted expression, he called for curbing “racist” or “hateful” discourse—terms often weaponized by elites to silence dissent.
This assault reverses France’s historic 1881 press law, making freedom the exception and censorship the norm. In an anti-oligarchy lens, it’s a bid by globalists to control narratives, protecting power structures from populist challenges.
Global Backlash: From Musk to Nawfal, Defending Free Expression
The remarks went viral, drawing swift condemnation. American influencer Mario Nawfal posted the clip on X, amassing over 5 million views, prompting an official French diplomacy response claiming it was “cut.”
Elon Musk amplified it to his 230+ million followers, noting X’s top ranking in France’s App Store amid the furor. Musk, a free speech advocate, has clashed with European regulators, calling leaders “tyrants” for censorship pushes.
This international outcry exposes Macron’s globalist stance, alienating allies while emboldening anti-elite sentiments.
Embarrassing Antics: From Airplane Mishaps to Personal Overshares
The visit ended in farce. Upon arrival, Macron briefly vanished from view beside Brigitte at the plane door, reappearing awkwardly fueling speculation of a mishap.
On February 18, he jogged Mumbai’s streets in aviator sunglasses, filmed for publicity, drawing “guignol” (puppet show) comparisons.
Source: Izvestia - Macron took a morning jog in Mumbai, accompanied by security
In a Brut India interview on February 19, Macron confessed to “big mistakes” from overconfidence and mused on love as “unexpected,” resembling adolescent ramblings unfit for a head of state.
These moments humiliated France’s global image, prioritizing personal spectacle over dignity.
Time for Action: Motion of Destitution and Reclaiming Sovereignty
Under Article 68 of the French Constitution, opposition could pursue Macron’s destitution for such lapses symbolically potent even near term’s end.
More critically, France must exit the EU (Frexit) to regain control over borders, language, and speech. Anti-globalists argue this restores sovereignty, countering oligarchic dominance and defending freedoms under siege.
Macron’s India trip, while starting with deals, exposed a leader beholden to supranational elites, eroding French identity. For France to thrive, rejecting globalism is imperative ensuring representatives honor the nation’s history, not humiliate it.
Key Takeaways
- Defense deals mask deeper sovereignty erosion through EU-led agreements
- Language abandonment symbolizes cultural surrender to globalist homogenization
- Immigration policies dictated by Brussels, not French democratic processes
- Free speech assault reveals elite preference for controlled narratives
- Personal antics undermine France’s international dignity and representation
Implications for International Relations
- France-India relations: Commercial ties strengthened at cost of French sovereignty
- EU integration: Further evidence of supranational overreach in member states
- Global free speech: Growing divide between Western leaders and digital platforms
- National sovereignty: Increasing tension between globalist agendas and populist movements
This article was reported for VA-N.com, dedicated to sovereign perspectives against oligarchic overreach.
Reading time: 8 minutes
Word count: 1,150 words