(Paris) French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, guest of honor for the National Day, displayed their “strategic intimacy” on Friday by publishing an ambitious roadmap for 2047 to develop their all-out partnership.
“We will continue to strengthen this historic relationship of trust between our two countries” which are celebrating the 25th this year.e anniversary of their strategic partnership, declared the French Head of State during a joint speech, before a dinner at the Louvre Museum.
“We consider France as a natural partner” and “we have designed a roadmap for the next 25 years”, said Mr. Modi, who had earlier been awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of honor, the highest French distinction.
PHOTO LUDOVIC MARIN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
French President Emmanuel Macron received Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Élysée Palace in Paris.
The first part of this roadmap includes cooperation in terms of security, which will be developed.
India, which has already ordered 36 Rafale fighter jets and six Scorpene submarines, announced on Thursday that it also wanted to acquire 26 Rafales in their Navy version to equip its aircraft carrier, as well as three submarines. additional.
The two countries also intend to cooperate to jointly develop engines for heavy transport helicopters. A contract has thus been concluded between the Indian company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Safran Helicopter Engines.
Paris and New Delhi also unveiled several cooperation agreements in the space field, including the establishment of a joint satellite maritime surveillance system and the start of construction of the Franco-Indian thermal infrared satellite TRISHNA.
They finally displayed their ambition to strengthen their cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, where France aims to weigh.
Environmental protection is the second pillar of the roadmap signed on Friday. Among the initiatives cited is the fight against single-use plastic or the international solar alliance, a joint initiative of France and India, launched at COP 21, which “should go beyond the initial objective of installing 1000 gigawatts by 2030. We will be able to go further with our international partners”, underlined the French president.
A final aspect concerns cooperation in research and university exchanges.
Military parade without a hitch
On the international level, “we share a common concern of a risk of fragmentation of the international community” in the light of the war in Ukraine and “we have the same objective of seeking a lasting peace and responding to this war of aggression on the most vulnerable countries, particularly in terms of food security and financing capacity,” argued Emmanuel Macron.
“India is ready to contribute to restore lasting peace,” assured Mr. Modi, whose country, a follower of multi-alignment, continues to cooperate with Russia although it has been ostracized by the West since the invasion of Ukraine.
Celebrated by the Élysée, this visit sparked criticism from the French left. The leader of La France insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, denounced an agreement between two leaders “both marked by authoritarian violence”.
Since Mr. Modi’s party came to power in 2014, India “has continued to regress in its fight against poverty, against inequality, as well as in terms of human rights and fundamental freedoms” , commented the environmentalists.
MM. Macron and Modi attended the traditional July 14 parade on the Champs-Élysées on Friday morning.
PHOTO LUDOVIC MARIN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Parade on the Champs-Élysées
After the passage of the nine Alphajets of the Patrouille de France, which colored the Parisian sky with blue white red, the parade on foot was opened by 240 members of the Indian armed forces, some wearing turbans.
The 2023 edition, which went off without a hitch, brought together 6,500 participants, including 5,100 on foot.
More than 60 planes, including foreign aircraft, 28 helicopters, 157 vehicles and 62 motorcycles paraded in the company of the 200 horses of the Republican Guard on the Champs-Élysées.
After interpreting The Marseillaise which concluded the parade around noon (6 a.m. Eastern time), the French head of state enjoyed a walkabout at the bottom of the most famous avenue in the world.
PHOTO GONZALO FUENTES, FRANCE-PRESSE AGENCY
Emmanuel Macron and the Chief of the Defense Staff on the Champs Élysées
The July 14 festivities are held under close surveillance. At the end of June, the death of a teenager, killed by a policeman during a roadside check, led to several nights of riots and considerable damage.
The government has deployed major means by mobilizing until Saturday evening some 45,000 police and gendarmes, elite units and armored vehicles.