PM Modi France Visit: On Thursday, Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron held talks with National Security Advisor(NSA) Ajit Doval regarding visit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France next week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit will coincide with 25 years of strategic relations between two countries. Emmanuel Macron has invited Modi as Guest of Honor for National Day celebrations on July 14. The invitation is a rare honor as the French do not foreign guests as guest of honor every year. The day is also celebrated as Bastille day which marks one of the most significant uprising during the early part of French revolution.
The upcoming visit
France and India cooperate on a multitude of issues and the scope of partnership between both countries has expanded significantly in past few years. During the talks NSA Doval and Diplomatic Advisor Bonne discussed cooperation in defence, energy, space and new technologies as the main arena of partnership. India had acquired Rafale fighter jets from France in 2022. Accoridng to some reports India is closing in on finalizing deal of purchasing Dassault Aviation’s Rafale-M (Marine) fighter jets that can launched from Aircraft carriers.
India troops will participate in Bastille Day parade along with French troops and Indian Rafale will also map the sky during the event. Although the celebrations of Bastille day are inherently nationalist in importance, the invitation extended to PM Modi and praticipation of Indian troops is a big mark of respect. Soldiers of British Indian army operated in French soil and aided the defense of country during both world wars.
‘New roadmap for cooperation’
In an interview to ANI Ambassador of France to India, Emmanuel Lenain spoke on PM Modi’s upcoming visit to France,Well, it’s going to be a very important visit. India is the guest of honour on our Bastille Day…our National Day. Every year we have a guest of honour but this year, it is very special that’s the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between France and India and we wanted to have Indian troops in the parade and also Indian Rafales in the sky.”
Speaking about the meeting visit he added that a new road for cooperation will be drafted to fight the contemporary challenges facing the world “Each time, there are important meetings at that level. There will be some new momentum for cooperation. That being the 25th anniversary this year, we are going to draft a roadmap to open for new cooperation in the future, especially in the field of technology, the fight against climate change, global issues, and people-to-people exchanges..there would be a lot of news.” Leanian said.
France is currently reeling through widespread protest and riots after killing of teenager Nahel has pushed the country in chaos. Apart from the United Sates, France has been rising as one of India’s most strategic partner and suppliers of defense equipment. France has been important observer in the Indo-Pacific region and both countries have stressed on enhancing maritime cooperation in the region.
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