After the splendor of Rajasthan, it's time for the legionnaires. Emmanuel Macron, guest of honor from India, will attend a colorful military parade on Friday January 26 where French Rafale fighters will meet Russian Mig-29s and T-90 tanks in the sky.
The head of state, welcomed with great fanfare on Thursday by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, famous for its palaces and its maharajas, ends his visit to New Delhi with the celebrations of "Republic Day “(Republic Day).
He is the guest of honor of the head of government and strong man of India for the celebration of the Indian Constitution, which came into force on January 26, 1950, two years after independence.
See alsoIndia: Emmanuel Macron guest of honor of Narendra Modi
Far from Paris, the French president, however, continues to follow the revolt of farmers who threaten to block the entire country. He also reacted Thursday evening to the invalidation of part of the contested law on immigration by the Constitutional Council, responsible in particular for ruling on the conformity of the laws with the Constitution.
Narendra Modi, who was the guest of honor for the July 14 military parade in Paris, returns the favor six months later as the industrial and military partnership intensifies between the two countries.
The Hindu nationalist leader, determined to display Indian power on the international stage, had first invited the American president, Joe Biden, who ultimately did not follow up against a backdrop of tensions after a plan to assassinate a separatist Sikh in New York.
Shortly before 10:30 a.m. (5 a.m. GMT), the French president, accompanied by his counterpart Droupadi Murmu, will join the parade stand aboard a carriage, which will start to the sound of 21 cannon shots.
A contingent of 150 legionnaires, led by Colonel Anne-Laure Michel, commanding the Istres air base (south), as well as two Rafale fighters and a French MRTT tanker plane will open the parade. Regiments of tanks, grenadiers and camel cavalry will follow.
France is eyeing new military contracts with India, whose main arms supplier remains Russia but which, concerned about its strategic autonomy, continues to diversify its acquisitions. It also hopes to sell it six EPR nuclear reactors.
International crises were also invited into the discussions
India has already purchased 36 French Rafales for its Air Force and is in negotiations to acquire 26 more for its Navy. It also wants to consolidate its defense industrial base through joint ventures with French groups, from Dassault to the missile maker MBDA.
President Macron will also promote France to Indian investors, who are still not very present in this country, before addressing the French community, perhaps the opportunity to review the political and social situation in France.
On Thursday, Narendra Modi had already pulled out all the stops by inviting his host to parade through the streets of Jaipur in front of tens of thousands of jubilant Indians chanting above all “Modi, Modi”.
Beyond the pomp, international crises, from Ukraine to Gaza, were also invited into the discussions. India, a long-time ally of Russia, refuses to condemn its offensive in Ukraine.
Both the leading demographic power (1.43 billion inhabitants) and the fifth largest economy in the world, India is an essential and increasingly sought-after heavyweight.
France intends, for its part, to be a player in the Asia-Pacific zone and a balancing power between North and South.
But by appearing alongside the Indian Prime Minister, President Macron also finds himself singled out by human rights organizations who denounce the authoritarian excesses of the Indian regime and the repression of religious minorities, particularly Muslims.
With AFP
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