France's Macron and India's Modi discuss need for de-escalation in the Middle East

French President Macron and Indian Prime Minister Modi emphasize diplomacy to ease Middle East tensions following recent attacks on regional energy infrastructure.

Reuters

March 19, 2026

France's Macron and India's Modi discuss need for de-escalation in the Middle East

French President Emmanuel Macron holds a meeting of France's defence and security council on the situation in the Middle East at the Elysee Palace, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Paris, France, March 17, 2026.

Benoit Tessier/Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed on Thursday the need to reduce tensions in the Middle East, they said on their respective X accounts, after Iran attacked energy infrastructure in the region following Israeli and U.S. attacks.

"India and France are working closely together to reduce tensions in the region and to keep diplomacy at the heart of our efforts for peace," Macron wrote on X, in response to earlier message posted by Modi.

-Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta;Editing by Inti Landauro/Reuters