Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit France on 13 and 14 July after being invited as the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade to celebrate France's National Day.
It is worth noting that France does not invite foreign dignitaries every year to this parade, making PM Modi's presence a rare occasion.
The visit of PM Modi holds significant importance as it aims to strengthen the India-France Strategic Partnership. To prepare for the visit, Emmanuel Bonne, the diplomatic advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron, recently visited New Delhi. The purpose of his visit was to finalise the bilateral agenda and discuss potential outcomes for the two-day visit.
The upcoming visit to Paris will focus on crucial aspects of technology transfer, including complete technology transfer for helicopter engines, the procurement of Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Navy, and the potential extension of the Scorpene submarine manufacturing line in India.
The Schedule
French President Emmanuel Macron plans to accompany Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a visit to the Louvre Museum in Paris. The leaders may even have their photograph taken with the famous Mona Lisa painting. Additionally, PM Modi is scheduled to address a diaspora event at La Seine Musicale, a performing arts centre situated on Ile Seguin Island in the scenic Seine River.
La Seine Musicale opened in 2017 and previously hosted renowned American singer Bob Dylan in its 6,000-seat Grand Seine theatre. Currently, it is hosting the "Namaste France" Festival of India, organised by the Indian Embassy in France and the Ministry of Culture.
During the visit, PM Modi will also attend the Bastille Day Parade in Paris on July 14 as the guest of honour. This is a rare occurrence, as France does not typically invite foreign dignitaries every year for the annual parade. The Bastille Day celebrations feature a military parade at the Champs Elysees.
President Macron will host PM Modi for a private dinner at his official Elysee Palace residence. They will discuss global and bilateral issues during the dinner, followed by formal delegation-level talks after the Bastille Day parade.
Furthermore, a 269-member contingent from the Indian armed forces will participate in the Bastille Day parade, and three Rafale fighter jets from the Indian Air Force will join the flypast over the Champs Elysees alongside French jets.
As part of the visit, President Macron will also host Modi for a ceremonial dinner at the Cour Marly courtyard in the Louvre Museum, which more than 250 dignitaries will attend.
The leaders are expected to take photographs with the museum's most prized possession, Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece, the Mona Lisa. Following their tour of the Louvre, they will enjoy a fireworks display over the Eiffel Tower from the Louvre's terrace.
This visit by PM Modi holds significance as it will be the first time a foreign leader has attended the Bastille Day celebrations during Macron's current term.
What's on The Agenda?
While PM Modi’s visit aims to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and pave the way for future cooperation, the trip also marks the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between India and France, and both leaders are expected to outline a roadmap for further enhancing the partnership.
Emmanuel Lenain, the French Ambassador to India said that the highlight of the visit will be Modi’s attendance as guest of honour at the Bastille Day celebrations, where Indian troops would participate in the marching contingent and Indian Rafale jets will be part of the flypast.
Lenain said that while the foundation of the France-India strategic partnership is built on mutual trust, with collaboration in areas such as defence, space, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural ties, the focus now is to explore new avenues of cooperation, particularly in sectors of the future, including alternative sources of energy like hydrogen.
Moreover, the visit is also set to witness the signing of technology transfer agreements and attempts to co-develop next-generation equipment, including developing the next-generation fighter jet engine in collaboration with French firm SAFRAN.
Moreover, experts say that Paris has plans for joint exports of weapon systems and continued partnership in meeting India's submarine requirements with Naval Group, a French defence manufacturer.
While India has successfully imported Rafale Multi-Role Combat Aircrafts into the Indian Air Force, it has also been reported that India is close to acquiring the Rafale-M (Marine) fighter jets which can operate from the flight deck of INS Vikrant. The induction in the Navy would provide synergies in training, maintenance, and repair.
Reports suggest that the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has a meeting scheduled on 13 July to consider granting acceptance of necessity (AON) for the Indian Navy's acquisition of 26 Rafale-M fighters.
The partnership between France and India extends to the Indian Ocean Region, with a shared vision which claims to further freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and the law of the sea by pursuing avenues of collaboration that include joint patrolling, information sharing, and sustainable development projects.
Modi's two-day visit is also expected to emphasise the strategic partnership between the countries in terms of setting ambitious objectives in areas of strategic collaboration, scientific advancements, cultural exchange, and economic cooperation.
As per media reports, defence cooperation could be one of the major points on the agenda including. The discussions are expected to include large defence contracts, cooperation in trade and a new course for bilateral ties alongside talks for the naval version of Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter jets.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)