India’s Modi Honored at Bastille Day Celebration in France.
That sounds like a big thing that happened on July 14. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Bastille Day military parade in Paris as the event’s special guest. Modi watched the procession as Indian and French soldiers marched along the Champs-Elysees avenue with French President Emmanuel Macron. The show, which was notable, also included a fly-past of Rafale fighter jets, which India acquired from France in 2015. The incident seems to have strengthened France and India’s defense relationships even more.
The nation’s Bastille Day celebrations fell during a trying time for President Emmanuel Macron. He heard booing from some bystanders as he rode in a military car down the Champs-Elysees. Months of protests were spurred by Macron’s decision to raise the retirement age earlier this year, which affected his approval ratings.
In the meantime, the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Paris got underway on Thursday, one day before the Bastille Day parade. Modi was presented with the Legion of decoration, France’s highest decoration, during his visit.
In a speech on Thursday, Macron stressed the importance of India and referred to it as a historical giant with a crucial future role. He mentioned India.
The Bastille Day celebrations fell on the same weekend that India received authorisation to increase its defense cooperation with France. For the navy, New Delhi has given preliminary approval to the purchase of three Scorpene class submarines and an additional 26 Rafale planes. Given that both countries are looking for allies in the Indo-Pacific area, this action further solidifies their defense relations.
Although the precise cost of the purchases is still being worked out, a source with knowledge of the situation said that it will be around 800 billion rupees ($9.75 billion). The development of defense cooperation between India and France is a sign of their expanding strategic alliance.
In fact, France has been one of India’s closest allies in Europe for a long time and has maintained a close relationship with India. When India conducted nuclear tests in 1998, this partnership was clearly visible. In reaction to the tests, France was the only Western nation to not impose sanctions on India.
With a four-decade history, France has long been India’s primary source of fighter jets. India bought Mirage fighters in the 1980s before purchasing Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation, and two squadrons of the Indian Air Force still use these planes today.
Your post looks to be a news update regarding the planned trip to France by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Speaking engagements at the Elysee Palace and a state banquet at the Louvre Museum are part of the visit.
It’s important to note, though, that human rights groups have also criticized Modi’s visit, particularly in light of worries about the perceived rise in authoritarianism of his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and claims of discrimination against minorities.
It’s critical to note that this response represents the LDH’s and some human rights groups’ viewpoints. On political issues, there are many diverse perspectives and points of view, and various groups may have different positions.
For France, the strategic alliance with India is crucial, particularly as it seeks to fortify its alliance network in the Indo-Pacific region. When Australia decided to abandon a significant submarine deal with France and join the AUKUS alliance with the US and UK in its place, France suffered a setback. France is motivated to strengthen its ties with the region as a result.
The French human rights organization Ligue des Droits de l’Homme (LDH) condemned Macron’s invitation to Modi and voiced its concerns about India’s purported authoritarian shift. They think that accepting this offer sends the wrong message and goes against democratic principles.
India and France both have significant interests in the Indian Ocean, including their own island holdings, and both countries are concerned about China’s growing assertiveness in the area. The fact that they both worry about China’s moves makes their interests coincide.
It is significant that Macron invited Prime Minister Modi to the Bastille Day military parade; in the past, Macron has only invited a small number of world leaders to this event. For instance, Donald Trump accepted the invitation in 2017, and after attending the French military parade, he decided to look into the potential of planning a comparable procession to honor American troops.
Michel Rose provided the information, while Frances Kerry and Nick Macfie edited it. It’s vital to remember that this information only represents the recorded facts as of the knowledge cutoff date of September 2021; there may have been subsequent discoveries or modifications.
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