Palaces, a parade and 21 cannon shots.
French President Emmanuel Macron begins a two-day visit to India this Thursday marked by splendor and emblematic of the strategic partnership developed by the two countries.
The head of state is the guest of honor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Indian Constitution Day, which came into force on January 26, 1950, two years after independence.
The Hindu nationalist leader, himself the guest of honor for the July 14 military parade in Paris, returned the favor six months later.
Narendra Modi had first invited American President Joe Biden, who ultimately did not follow up, according to the Indian press.
The French head of state receives this honor in the wake of the Egyptian (2023), Brazilian (2020) and South African (2019) presidents.
Four of his predecessors were also entitled to it.
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Emmanuel Macron, very focused in recent weeks on the relaunch of his five-year term, is thus gaining ground internationally at a new moment of tension in France with the discontent of farmers.
“This trip will make it possible to consolidate and deepen Franco-Indian diplomatic and economic relations and to strengthen links between civil societies,” welcomes the French presidency.
A French contingent in the parade
The president is first expected this Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. GMT) in Jaipur, capital of the state of Rajasthan, the “land of kings” famous for its maharajas and palaces, before heading to New Delhi .
He will meet artists and interact with young Indians at Amber Fort, before joining the Prime Minister.
Narendra Modi has arranged a car parade for him through Jaipur, followed by a one-on-one dinner in a former royal residence transformed into a palace.
Symbol of bilateral cooperation in the space field, from satellites to manned flights, the two leaders accompanied by French astronaut Thomas Pesquet will also visit an astronomical observatory installed in the 18th century by Jesuits.
Friday morning, they will attend the big military parade in New Delhi together, to the sound of 21 cannon shots.
Emmanuel Macron will first join the tribune of honor aboard a cab.
A contingent of 150 legionnaires as well as two Rafale fighters and a French tanker plane will also be in the spotlight, between Indian tank regiments and camel cavalry.
Human rights violated
Beyond the pomp, international crises, from Ukraine to Gaza, will be at the heart of the discussions.
India, a long-time ally of Russia, which remains its main arms supplier, refuses to condemn its offensive in Ukraine.
France, for its part, hopes to increase its cooperation in the military industry with India, which has purchased 36 Rafales and is in negotiations to acquire 26 others, and sell it six EPR nuclear reactors.
However, no major announcements are expected during the visit.
President Macron is accompanied by Ministers of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu, of Culture Rachida Dati, of Foreign Affairs Stéphane Séjourné and around fifteen business leaders, including the CEOs of EDF, Dassault Aviation, Naval Group and Cap Gemini.
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Both the largest demographic power (1.43 billion inhabitants) and the fifth economic power in the world, India is an essential heavyweight and increasingly sought after.
France, for its part, intends to be a player in the Asia-Pacific zone and a balancing power between North and South.
In India, it must also deal with an ally that is increasingly troublesome in terms of human rights.
NGOs, which denounce authoritarian abuses and the repression of religious minorities, urged Emmanuel Macron to raise the issue during his interviews.
“If India's allies do not make it clear to the Modi government that rights violations will have consequences (…) repression and authoritarianism will continue to grow in India,” warns Human Rights Watch.