President Emmanuel Macron of France will attend the 75th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, on January 26, 2024.
“Thank you for your invitation, my dear friend @NarendraModi. India, on your Republic Day, I’ll be here to celebrate with you!” Macron confirmed the news in a post on X on December 22. PM Modi responded to Macron’s post saying, “My Dear Friend President @EmmanuelMacron, we eagerly look forward to receiving you as the Chief Guest at the 75th Republic Day. We will also celebrate India- France strategic partnership and shared belief in democratic values. Bientôt!”
My Dear Friend President @EmmanuelMacron, we eagerly look forward to receiving you as the Chief Guest at the 75th Republic Day. We will also celebrate India- France strategic partnership and shared belief in democratic values. Bientôt ! https://t.co/jvzvOY2NNa
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 22, 2023
Modi and Macron previously convened in France in July 2023 at the Bastille Day Parade where the former was Guest of Honor. Modi had visited France on invitation by President Macron. They also met at the G-20 Summit in India on September 9 and 10 and more recently on December 1 2023, on the sidelines of the COP 28 Summit in Dubai.
India and France are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership in 2023. Modi’s visit to France in July was to honor the same. "To mark the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, a 241-member tri-service Indian armed forces contingent led by a military band also participated in the Parade," the PMO had said in a statement.
Macron’s visit will mark the sixth time for a French leader to be a chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. Prior to Macron, former French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac attended the Republic Day celebrations in 1976, then in 1998. Former Presidents Valery Giscard d’Estaing, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Francois Hollande ascended in New Delhi in 1980, 2008, and 2016 respectively, according to a report.
Prime Minister Modi first extended the chief guest invitation to United States President Joe Biden, US Envoy Eric Garcetti had confirmed in September. However, Biden reportedly expressed his inability to attend the event.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login