India's AI Summit is a geopolitical winner with a big thumbs up from Europe

The ripples of the AI Impact Summit being hosted by India have gone beyond the tech space into the geopolitical sphere. It is the first time India has seen such a large presence of European heads of state and other senior leaders at a tech event, which points towards a geopolitical victory for the country. The big presence of the European leaders comes within weeks of India and the European Union (EU) finalising the historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The AI Impact Summit 2026 not only got the who's who from the AI world in New Delhi, but saw representation from over 100 countries. The line-up of international dignitaries included 11 heads of state or government from Europe, including France, The Netherlands, Spain, Greece, and Finland.

In total, 26 European nations are officially represented, making this the largest European delegation to any technology-centric event in India. This unprecedented participation shows Europe's keen interest in collaborating with India on AI and related fields.

India, which produces one of the world's largest pools of tech talent, with professionals who have led innovation across fields ranging from software to semiconductors, is now seemingly ready to do the same in the field of AI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the Summit's global appeal on his X handle. "The AI Impact Summit in Delhi has brought together the who's who from the AI world. There is representation from over 100 countries. There are distinguished participants from every corner of the globe. Our aim is the same - leveraging the power of AI for the welfare of our planet," he said.

AI IMPACT SUMMIT HAS SERVED AS A PLATFORM FOR ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN INDIA, EUROPE

The AI Impact Summit has served as a platform for advancing economic ties as well. In bilateral talks, Prime Minister Modi discussed the FTA between India and the 27-nation European Union (EU) with several European leaders.

Officials noted that this agreement could act as a strong catalyst to boost bilateral trade and investments.

EU leaders and their representatives have conveyed unanimous support for the early implementation of the India-EU FTA. They have assured their backing for its quick ratification in the European Council and European Parliament.

This support comes at a time when Europe views India as a vital partner.

In recent diplomatic engagements, officials have described Europe's stance as an "unambiguous vote of confidence" in the "vitality" of the India-Europe Strategic Partnership.

Artificial Intelligence and digital innovation have seemingly been an anchor for this partnership.

This positions India favourably in the geopolitical landscape, especially in the Global South, where technology alliances are key to influence and progress.

FRANCE PLAYING KEY ROLE IN AI IMPACT SUMMIT

France, in particular, is playing a key role in AI governance and applications. This was evident from the collaboration between PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, who co-chaired the AI Action Summit in Paris in February 2025. That event laid the groundwork for ongoing dialogue.

Ambassador of Italy to India, Antonio Bartoli, echoed the sentiment of partnership between India and the EU. He said, "...The trajectory is impressive, and you [India] are already a global power, even in AI. I think it is in the interest of a country like mine, Italy, and of Europe to partner with India because we share a common human-centric approach. AI is a powerful tool that must be at the service of people, not the other way around, and it must be inclusive..."

Bartoli further added, "When we talk about neighbours collaborating, it is important to share a common approach on how to use these tools. AI is applicable in every sector, and India has the talent to serve not only its 1.4 billion people but the entire world, starting from space, health, and agriculture..." His words highlight the mutual benefits of Indo-European collaboration, focusing on AI's role in sectors like health and agriculture.

INDUSTRY LEADERS REINFORCE INDIA'S AI METTLE

The Summit has also attracted industry leaders, who have reinforced its tech and geopolitical significance.

President of Microsoft, Brad Smith, emphasised the event's importance for global AI adoption. He said, "I think this event is hugely important. The world has come to India so that we can think together about what we can do to bring AI to more of the world, especially the global south. And we have more work to do. I think it's going to require investments, partnerships by tech companies, by other private capital, by governments."

Smith added, "And we have to keep investing in skilling, and that's a big part of what we're doing at Microsoft this week. We unveiled our progress, we're on a pace to invest $50 billion before the end of the decade to bring AI to the global South, both infrastructure and through skilling. And then we have to make sure that AI works for people. We all know that technology will get better each and every year. The real question is, can we work together to make sure the technology serves people better every year. That, I think is the ultimate quest on which we should all join together."

These sentiments from global figures show how the Summit positions India as a leader in AI, particularly for the Global South. Europe's strong turnout and commitments to the FTA are seemingly proof of a strategic alignment that goes beyond just technology.

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