Picture : Twitter/ ANI
After a recent successful visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for yet another strategically important two-day France visit at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. On July 14, Modi will be the guest of honour at the annual Bastille Day Parade, the country’s Independence Day, which marks the beginning of the French Revolution more than 200 years ago and will see the participation of a 269-member Indian tri-service contingent. Three Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will also join the flypast on the occasion, along with French jets. French President Emmanuel Macron’s red-carpet welcome for the Hindu nationalist leader comes weeks after Modi was given the rare honour of a White House state dinner in Washington — a city he was once banned from visiting.
In his tweet Modi said, “Leaving for Paris, where I will take part in the Bastille Day celebrations. I look forward to productive discussions with President Emmanuel Macron and other French dignitaries. Other programmes include interacting with the Indian community and top CEOs.”
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron share a warm hug as the latter arrives for the Bastille Day parade at Champs-Élysées in Paris.
PM Modi is attending the parade as the Guest of Honour, pic.twitter.com/J524gTUehk
— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2023
During the visit, Modi will hold talks with Macron to take forward cooperation in a range of key areas, including defence, space, trade and investment. Modi further added, “This year marks the 25th anniversary of our strategic partnership. Rooted in deep trust and commitment, our two countries cooperate closely across various domains including defence, space, civil nuclear, blue economy, trade, investment, education, culture and people-to-people ties. We also work together on regional and global issues.”
It is with great humility that I accept the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. This is an honour for the 140 crore people of India. I thank President @EmmanuelMacron, the French Government and people for this gesture. It shows their deep affection towards India and resolve for… pic.twitter.com/Nw7V1JVgpb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 14, 2023
“I look forward to meeting President Macron and holding wide-ranging discussions on taking forward this longstanding and time-tested partnership over the next 25 years. I have had the opportunity to meet President Macron several times since my last Official Visit to France in 2022, most recently in Hiroshima, Japan in May 2023 during the G-7 Summit.”
“I also look forward to my interactions with the French leadership, including H.E. Elisabeth Borne, Prime Minister of France, H.E. Gerard Larcher, Presidents of the Senate, and H.E. Yael Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly.”
“During my visit, I will have the opportunity to meet the vibrant Indian community, leading CEOs from both countries as well as prominent French personalities. I am confident that my visit will provide a new impetus to our strategic partnership.”
Despite differences over the war in Ukraine and tensions over human rights in India, New Delhi and Western democracies are keen on deepening ties because of mutual concerns about China. An aide to Macron said on the basis of anonymity, “India is one of the pillars of our Indo-Pacific strategy.”
#WATCH | Flypast in the colours of French national flag adorn the sky of Paris at the Bastille Day parade. pic.twitter.com/hhdZpq33Lf
— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2023
However, it’s not just economic and strategic interests at play during PM Modi’s visit, which is said to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership. In a rare honour, an Indian military contingent comprising all three services will participate in the Bastille Day celebrations. After all, the French National Day, or Bastille Day, occupies a special place in the French consciousness as it commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison during the French Revolution in 1789. Being the Guest-of-Honour on such a special occasion speaks a lot about Modi’s popularity among the global leaders and growing importance of India as a strategic country which can take on China!
