Narendra Modi to join Emmanuel Macron in Bastille Day Parade

Get Free Indian Politics & Policy Updates

we will send you one myFT Daily Digest Latest Email Rounding Indian Politics and Policy News every morning.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in France on Thursday for a high-profile visit aimed at deepening trade and defense ties to counter a rising China, with at least one major arms deal expected to be signed. .

Troops and aircraft from India’s armed forces will take part in the Bastille Day parade on Friday, with Modi as the guest of honor of French President Emmanuel Macron, in a move aimed at highlighting India’s status as a prized diplomatic partner.

Ahead of the G20 leaders’ summit to be hosted by India in New Delhi in September, a French official said the pair would discuss the war in Ukraine and the rise of China during the two-day visit.

French Senator Christian Cambon said Modi’s visit is a “significant moment” for the relationship between the two countries, and said discussions on India buying additional Rafale-sea fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation are ongoing and will be concluded during the visit. Might be possible.

Indian media reported on Monday that the two countries will finalize an order for about two dozen Rafale-Marine jets, which are designed for use on aircraft carriers, two of which are in service with India.

Cambon said, “You can imagine that Modi will not come to Paris for nothing.” India’s defense and external affairs ministries declined to comment.

France has long been one of India’s closest allies in Europe and Macron has made a special effort to please Modi by hosting him on four occasions since 2017. This year marks the 25th anniversary of India and France’s strategic partnership, which has boosted cooperation on defence. In energy, civil aviation and space, France is helping India launch satellites.

Under another potential contract with France’s Naval Group, India will buy three Scorpene attack submarines to complement the six Scorpene attack submarines commissioned in 2005. French engine maker Safran is also in the running to expand a joint venture with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. 2022 which makes engines for army helicopters.

Dassault, Safran and Naval Group declined to comment.

France is India’s second largest arms supplier after Russia and India’s air force already has 36 Rafale jets. These have been delivered from 2020 under a €5 billion deal that aims to upgrade India’s aging air force fleet.

The arms deal with India, which will boost the strength of the French defense sector, is part of Macron’s push for “strategic autonomy” to reduce Europe’s dependence on outside powers such as the US.

Paris is also keen to maintain a presence in the Indo-Pacific through its navy and overseas territories, while seeking to engage countries such as India that did not join Western sanctions against Russia for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine Are.

In an area that includes two French overseas departments, France and India already conduct joint naval patrols and surveillance flights.

Research director Christophe Jaffrelot said, “The French see themselves as a resident power in the Indian Ocean, with more than 1 million citizens in La Réunion and Mayotte, French troops stationed in Djibouti and the world’s second largest exclusive economic zone ” at Sciences Po in Paris and author of Modi’s India,

“For India and France, joining hands means a lot at a time when China is increasing its influence in this part of the world.”

Isabelle Saint-Mézard, professor of geopolitics at the University of Paris 8, said: “Both the US and France have realized that relations with China are going to be tense for some time, and they want to keep India on their side to deal with it.” Wanting.” , India is benefiting in some ways from the rivalry between the US and China.

Although India is non-aligned and emerged as a major buyer of Russian oil during the war in Ukraine, it has drawn closer to the US since 2020 amid skirmishes along its northern border with China and its economy and rivalry with China. in technology.

While in Washington, Modi presided over the signing of bilateral deals, including an agreement between General Electric and HAL to manufacture jet engines in India.

For Modi, who was welcomed to a White House dinner and addressed Congress on a state visit to the US in June, the trip to Paris will be his second high-profile trip in less than a month.

Raji Rajagopalan, director of the Center for Security, Strategy and Technology at the Observer Research Foundation, said, “It is great that all the great powers are supporting India and it is also true that Modi is using this to further his domestic agenda.” do.” New Delhi.

“With the 2024 election coming up, this visit will be used to convey how much India is respected by the world.”

For Macron, the visit comes at a delicate time after riots broke out nearly two weeks ago after a 17-year-old was shot dead by police. The French president is keeping a low profile domestically, and the government is concerned that unrest could flare up around the July 14 holiday.

Campaign groups questioned whether Macron would raise human rights issues with Modi, given concerns about the treatment of minority Muslims and Christians in New Delhi, and pressure on non-governmental organizations and journalists.

Philippe Bolopian of Human Rights Watch wrote, “It is deeply worrying that France is celebrating the values ​​of freedom and equality alongside a leader who is heavily criticized for promoting democracy in India.”

Get Free Indian Politics & Policy Updates

we will send you one myFT Daily Digest Latest Email Rounding Indian Politics and Policy News every morning.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in France on Thursday for a high-profile visit aimed at deepening trade and defense ties to counter a rising China, with at least one major arms deal expected to be signed. .

Troops and aircraft from India’s armed forces will take part in the Bastille Day parade on Friday, with Modi as the guest of honor of French President Emmanuel Macron, in a move aimed at highlighting India’s status as a prized diplomatic partner.

Ahead of the G20 leaders’ summit to be hosted by India in New Delhi in September, a French official said the pair would discuss the war in Ukraine and the rise of China during the two-day visit.

French Senator Christian Cambon said Modi’s visit is a “significant moment” for the relationship between the two countries, and said discussions on India buying additional Rafale-sea fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation are ongoing and will be concluded during the visit. Might be possible.

Indian media reported on Monday that the two countries will finalize an order for about two dozen Rafale-Marine jets, which are designed for use on aircraft carriers, two of which are in service with India.

Cambon said, “You can imagine that Modi will not come to Paris for nothing.” India’s defense and external affairs ministries declined to comment.

France has long been one of India’s closest allies in Europe and Macron has made a special effort to please Modi by hosting him on four occasions since 2017. This year marks the 25th anniversary of India and France’s strategic partnership, which has boosted cooperation on defence. In energy, civil aviation and space, France is helping India launch satellites.

Under another potential contract with France’s Naval Group, India will buy three Scorpene attack submarines to complement the six Scorpene attack submarines commissioned in 2005. French engine maker Safran is also in the running to expand a joint venture with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. 2022 which makes engines for army helicopters.

Dassault, Safran and Naval Group declined to comment.

France is India’s second largest arms supplier after Russia and India’s air force already has 36 Rafale jets. These have been delivered from 2020 under a €5 billion deal that aims to upgrade India’s aging air force fleet.

The arms deal with India, which will boost the strength of the French defense sector, is part of Macron’s push for “strategic autonomy” to reduce Europe’s dependence on outside powers such as the US.

Paris is also keen to maintain a presence in the Indo-Pacific through its navy and overseas territories, while seeking to engage countries such as India that did not join Western sanctions against Russia for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine Are.

In an area that includes two French overseas departments, France and India already conduct joint naval patrols and surveillance flights.

Research director Christophe Jaffrelot said, “The French see themselves as a resident power in the Indian Ocean, with more than 1 million citizens in La Réunion and Mayotte, French troops stationed in Djibouti and the world’s second largest exclusive economic zone ” at Sciences Po in Paris and author of Modi’s India,

“For India and France, joining hands means a lot at a time when China is increasing its influence in this part of the world.”

Isabelle Saint-Mézard, professor of geopolitics at the University of Paris 8, said: “Both the US and France have realized that relations with China are going to be tense for some time, and they want to keep India on their side to deal with it.” Wanting.” , India is benefiting in some ways from the rivalry between the US and China.

Although India is non-aligned and emerged as a major buyer of Russian oil during the war in Ukraine, it has drawn closer to the US since 2020 amid skirmishes along its northern border with China and its economy and rivalry with China. in technology.

While in Washington, Modi presided over the signing of bilateral deals, including an agreement between General Electric and HAL to manufacture jet engines in India.

For Modi, who was welcomed to a White House dinner and addressed Congress on a state visit to the US in June, the trip to Paris will be his second high-profile trip in less than a month.

Raji Rajagopalan, director of the Center for Security, Strategy and Technology at the Observer Research Foundation, said, “It is great that all the great powers are supporting India and it is also true that Modi is using this to further his domestic agenda.” do.” New Delhi.

“With the 2024 election coming up, this visit will be used to convey how much India is respected by the world.”

For Macron, the visit comes at a delicate time after riots broke out nearly two weeks ago after a 17-year-old was shot dead by police. The French president is keeping a low profile domestically, and the government is concerned that unrest could flare up around the July 14 holiday.

Campaign groups questioned whether Macron would raise human rights issues with Modi, given concerns about the treatment of minority Muslims and Christians in New Delhi, and pressure on non-governmental organizations and journalists.

Philippe Bolopian of Human Rights Watch wrote, “It is deeply worrying that France is celebrating the values ​​of freedom and equality alongside a leader who is heavily criticized for promoting democracy in India.”