French Bastille Day parade features Indian Prime Minister Modi as special guest

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a prestigious honor during his visit to France as the guest of honor at the Bastille Day military parade. The visit also solidified significant defense agreements between the two countries.

Accompanied by President Emmanuel Macron, Modi witnessed a grand display of French and Indian soldiers marching along the Champs Elysees in Paris. The parade featured a flypast of French-made Rafale fighter jets, which India had acquired in 2015, soaring over the Arc de Triomphe. Bastille Day commemorates the historic event in 1789 when French citizens stormed the Bastille fortress, a symbol of oppressive rule under the monarchy.

These national celebrations took place during a delicate time for Macron, who faced some public disapproval as he drove down the Champs Elysees in a military vehicle. His decision to raise the retirement age had triggered months of protests earlier in the year, negatively impacting his popularity ratings. On the other hand, Modi's visit to Paris began on a positive note as he was bestowed with France's highest award, the Legion of Honour, on Thursday.

During the visit, the Indian defense ministry provided preliminary approval to purchase an additional 26 Rafale jets for its navy, along with three Scorpene-class submarines, further strengthening defense ties between India and France. This move comes as both nations seek allies in the Indo-Pacific region. The estimated value of these acquisitions is around $9.75 billion, although the final details are still subject to negotiation.

Despite disagreements among Western nations regarding Russia's actions in Ukraine, many countries, including the United States, have been actively engaging with Modi and India to establish a military and economic counterbalance to China. France has been a longstanding close partner to India in Europe, notably refraining from imposing sanctions on India after its nuclear tests in 1998. India has relied on French fighter jets for the past four decades, with Mirage jets from the 1980s still comprising a significant portion of the air force.

The need to replace India's aging fleet of Russian-made planes, along with Moscow's limitations in performing maintenance work and delays in India's domestic manufacturing plans, prompted the two nations to pursue these new defense deals. Later in the day, Macron will host Modi at the Elysee Palace for discussions, followed by a state banquet at the Louvre Museum.