Emmanuel Macron guest of honor in India, a visit with multiple challenges
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in India this Thursday, January 25, for a two-day visit, his third to the country, France's strategic partner in the region.
He is accompanied by three ministers and a large cultural and economic delegation.
Like Narendra Modi six months ago for July 14, Emmanuel Macron will be the guest of honor for the Indian national holiday, Friday January 26.
AP - Christophe Ena
By: RFI Follow
Advertisement
Read more
No French president has visited Rajasthan until now.
This is certainly one of the reasons that contributed to choosing Jaipur to arrive in the country.
For Emmanuel Macron, starting with the capital of the largest state in India is a way to immerse yourself in Indian culture and the promise of unique images, observes our special correspondent,
Valérie Gas
.
On the Indian side too, we are praising this stage in Jaipur where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will welcome Emmanuel Macron in an astronomical observatory in order to celebrate space cooperation between the two countries, in the presence of Thomas Pesquet, the French astronaut who would like to go to the moon.
But the highlight of this visit will be the Republic Day military parade on Friday in New Delhi.
As a mirror of the last July 14 parade on the Champs-Élysées, opened by 240 Indian soldiers, a French contingent will shine in the great military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution.
President Macron will be the guest of honor in the official gallery,
just as Narendra Modi was at Place de la Concorde
.
An essential heavyweight
This 36-hour visit will be conducted at a leisurely pace.
Emmanuel Macron will hold ceremonies, cultural visits, but also political interviews.
At the same time the world's largest demographic power (1.43 billion inhabitants), economic giant and nuclear power, India is an essential heavyweight and increasingly courted.
It is on the front line facing China, the United States' number one rival, with which it also has complicated relations.
A fan of “multi-alignment”, New Delhi, on the other hand, maintains good relations with Russia, refusing to sanction it for its invasion of Ukraine and even going so far as to buy from it the oil that the Europeans are boycotting.
Also readDiplomacy, arms, nuclear power: why France wants to strengthen its alliance with India at all costs
France, under the leadership of Emmanuel Macron, for its part intends to be a player in the Asia-Pacific zone and wants to be a balancing power, a bridge between the North and the South.
The Head of State has already visited India twice, in 2018 and for the G20 summit in September 2023.
The two leaders will have discussions on Ukraine, the Middle East and China as well as bilateral defense cooperation, according to an Indian diplomatic source.
The two nuclear powers have long cultivated defense ties, illustrated by India's intention to acquire 26 additional Rafales, in addition to the 36 already ordered.
Negotiations are continuing on the sale of these 26 combat aircraft intended for the Navy, as well as that of three Scorpène submarines.
No announcements should therefore be made during the visit.
A framework agreement in sight for six EPR reactors
This visit will also be an opportunity to open up new commercial opportunities, as bilateral trade has reached 15 billion euros in 2022. A volume that is still modest compared to France-China trade, estimated at more than 100 billion.
And French investments in the country have increased, reaching 25 billion.
India's 19th customer, Paris is only its 29th supplier.
French exports are mainly aeronautical and military equipment.
Because the country remains protectionist in many sectors, such as the food industry, automobiles and pharmaceuticals.
France nevertheless aims to sell six EPR reactors to India for the Jaitapur power plant, in the state of Maharashtra, a project in the pipeline for fifteen years.
A framework agreement could be concluded during the visit, according to an Indian source.
Will it be about human rights?
While the Indian Prime Minister is accused of authoritarian excesses and repression of religious minorities, the Élysée responds that there is no "
taboo subject, but that the aim is to discuss them with respect
and with the objective to achieve concrete results
.
(
And with
AFP)
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your inbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
Share :
Continue reading on the same themes:
India
France
Emmanuel Macron
Narendra Damodardas Modi