The Bharat-France ties are at a new high since French President Emmanuel Macron accepted New Delhi’s invitation to be the guest of honour at the 75th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2024. France had been extended with the invitation in the aftermath of Washington confirming that United States President Joe Biden would not be able to visit Bharat in January due to his unavailability. What must be noted here is France accepted the invitation at such short notice reflecting that the relationship which the countries share is beyond diplomacy, and is deeply strong. President Macron accepted the invite within hours of receiving it, illustrating the significant friendship the two nations hold.
While announcing the confirmation of the French President’s visit to Bharat, the Ministry of External Affairs said that Bharat and France, both of whom are strategic partners, “share a high degree of convergence” on regional and global matters. In 2023, both countries celebrated the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnerships.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in France as the Guest of Honour in the Bastille Day Parade held on 14th July 2023, while President Macron was in New Delhi in September for the G20 Summit under Bharat’s chairmanship. On his way back from Denmark, PM Modi also made a stopover in Paris on May 4, 2022, to meet President Macron, making the Bharatiya Prime Minister the first leader in the world to meet the French President after he won his second term on April 17, 2022.
France and Bharat established diplomatic ties in June 1948, while it was elevated into strategic relations in 1998. This strategic partnership with Bharat was France’s first outside the European Union and has helped in the comprehensive growth of both nations. Of this Strategic Partnership, the constitute pillars have been cooperation in the areas of defense and security, space, and nuclear matters.
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