French President Emmanuel Macron may be the chief guest at next year’s Republic Day celebrations.
Before this, India had sent an invitation to US President Joe Biden but he has expressed his inability to come. Now the President of France will come as a guest on Republic Day to see the military power of India.
The strategic partnership between India and France has received a great boost in recent times. Reports have revealed that India and France are finalizing the modalities regarding Emmanuel Macron’s visit.
This is going to be an important journey amidst the current turbulent times of geopolitics.
Like India, France also gave more importance to strategic independence in its foreign policy. Apart from this, PM Narendra Modi’s excellent chemistry with Macron has also been seen on many occasions.
Let us tell you that in the same year 2023, PM Narendra Modi was the chief guest on the Bastille Day celebrations, the national day of France. To mark the 25th anniversary of the India-France strategic partnership, a 241-member tri-service Indian Armed Forces contingent led by a military band also participated in the parade.
During this period, Prime Minister Modi was honored with the Legion of Honor by France. This is France’s highest honour. With this, PM Modi became the first Indian PM to receive this honour.
France will be the guest on Republic Day for the sixth time
Now French President Emmanuel Macron has been invited as the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in 2024.
This is the sixth instance of a French leader being invited to an important event on the road marking the day on 26 January. The last time a French President was a guest on Republic Day was in 2016. That year, the then President Francois Hollande was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.
France has the unique distinction of being the only country to receive the largest number of invitations for India’s Republic Day parade. In 1976, French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac became the first French leader to be invited as the chief guest for India’s Republic Day celebrations.
This was followed by invitations to French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in 1980, President Jacques Chirac in 1998, President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008 and President François Hollande in 2016.
France did not impose sanctions on India after Pokhran-II
France has been one of the top defense partners in recent years under the Make in India initiative. France is an old partner of India in the space sector. France has also been a participant in the field of civil nuclear energy. Unlike some other Western countries, France did not impose sanctions on India after Pokhran-II. Nor is France in the habit of interfering in any internal affairs of India.
This week, the French government submitted its response to India’s Rs 50,000 crore tender to buy 26 Rafale maritime fighter jets for the Indian Navy.
India has initiated a $6 billion deal with France to acquire 26 Rafale seaplanes with an aim to enhance the aircraft carrier capabilities of the Indian Navy. The purchase includes 22 single-seater Rafale seaplanes and four twin-seater trainer versions.
Joe Biden had expressed his inability
Earlier, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti had informed the media that India had invited US President Joe Biden to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations, but this visit could not be possible.
The US side has not given any specific reason for its inability to accept President Biden’s invitation. Possible reasons include the scheduled State of the Union address and domestic commitments.