Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to attend this year’s Bastille Day Parade in Paris as the guest of honour. The invitation was extended by French President Emmanuel Macron, and PM Modi has accepted it. This year’s parade is especially significant as it marks the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership.
To celebrate this milestone, an Indian armed forces contingent will march alongside their French counterparts during the parade. PM Modi’s visit to France is expected to strengthen the India-France Strategic Partnership by setting new targets for cooperation in strategic, cultural, scientific, academic, and economic domains.
The two leaders are scheduled to meet in Hiroshima later this month on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. President Macron is also expected to attend the G20 Leaders Summit in India in September this year. This visit is expected to deliver common initiatives to address key global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.
India and France share a common vision on peace and security, especially in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. The two countries uphold the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which forms the basis of their cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. This visit is also an opportunity for India and France to reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism, including in the context of India’s G20 Presidency.
Bastille Day, also known as the French National Day, is one of the most significant celebrations in France. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille on July 14th, 1789, a major event of the French Revolution that celebrated the unity of the French people on July 14th, 1790. The Bastille Day Parade is said to be the oldest and largest military parade in Europe.
PM Modi’s presence as the guest of honour at the parade is a testament to the close ties between India and France. It is expected to enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries and set the stage for greater cooperation in the future.