Modi honoured at France's Bastille Day celebrations

Indian PM awarded Legion of Honour as countries mark deepening of diplomatic and strategic ties

France's President Emmanuel Macron, right, and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi issue a joint declaration following a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris. AFP

Mr Modi and Mr Macron attend a joint press conference in Paris, where India was the guest of honour at this year’s Bastille Day parade. Reuters

Mr Macron and Mr Modi wave to the press before a meeting. AFP

Mr Modi and Mr Macron meet Second World War veteran Odile de Vasselot during the annual Bastille Day parade in Paris. EPA

Mr Macron talks to Mr Modi during the parade. AP

Mr Macron looks on as Mr Modi reviews Indian soldiers during the military parade. AP

Mr Modi shakes hands with an Indian soldier during the military parade. AP

From left, Mr Modi, Mr Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron attend the Bastille Day military parade. AFP

Mr Macron greets Mr Modi at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Bloomberg

Ms Macron and Mr Modi in the French capital, where the Indian PM was on a two-day visit. EPA

French troops on parade on the Champs Elysee. EPA

Mr Macron stands by as his wife Brigitte greets Mr Modi at the Elysee Palace. Reuters

Mr Modi has been invited to be guest of honour at celebrations to mark France's national day on Friday. Bloomberg

Mr Modi delivers a speech at La Seine Musicale complex in Boulogne-Billancourt, a district in Paris. AFP

Dancers perform before a speech by Mr Modi at La Seine Musicale complex. AFP

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne shakes hands with Mr Modi before talks in Paris. AP

The Indian Prime Minister is greeted by his French counterpart before joining Bastille Day celebrations. AP

Mr Modi also met the president of the French Senate, Gerard Larcher. Photo: Indian Press Information Bureau

Mr Modi receives a warm reception from members of the Indian community in Paris. Photo: Indian Press Information Bureau

Mr Modi is welcomed by the French Republican Guard at Orly Airport, near Paris. AFP

Mr Modi and Ms Borne at the start of his a two-day visit to France. AFP

India's Prime Minister lands in France ahead of talks with ministers over major new defence deals. AFP

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the guest of honour at France's Bastille Day celebrations on Friday as the two countries marked a quarter of a century of close ties.

The two-day visit included a banquet at the Louvre, Indian troops marching down the Champs-Elysees and a speech by Mr Modi to Indians from across Europe.

Mr Modi was warmly welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the festivities, which mark the storming of Bastille prison at the start of the French Revolution.

Earlier, Mr Macron awarded Mr Modi the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the country's top order of merit. Mr Modi hailed it as “an honour for the 1.4 billion residents of India”.

The celebrations kicked off with a traditional military parade in the morning that had tanks, planes and soldiers sweeping down the Champs Elysees.

The Indian Prime Minister's two-day visit has attracted a high degree of fanfare, marking 25 years of a strategic partnership between the two countries and reflects India's growing strategic and military might.

France has been one of India's closest partners in Europe for decades. It was the only western nation to not impose sanctions on New Delhi after India conducted nuclear tests in 1998.

India's decision to buy 26 French-made Rafael jets and three more Scorpene-class submarines in a deal expected to be worth billions of euros had previously been announced the country's defence ministry.

The total value of the purchases is expected to be around 800 billion rupees ($9.75 billion), according to reports. India has already purchased 36 Rafale jets, three of which flew over Paris during the parade.

Bastille Day parade – in pictures

“We were able to all see a marvellous image of our co-operation on sea, land and in the skies,” Mr Modi said.

The timing of the festivities comes at a sensitive time for France after major cities were gripped by widespread rioting and looting across the country, triggered by a fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old.

A large police presence has been deployed to prevent further unrest. Some towns have cancelled their traditional firework displays out of fear of violence, and buses and trams are to stop running in the Paris region later in the evening.

Despite differences over the war in Ukraine and concerns over human rights in India, western democracies are courting India as a military and economic counterweight to China.

The French President told a meeting of military leaders on Thursday evening that India was “a giant of world history, which will have a decisive role for our future”.

He later tweeted in Hindi, saying that France would never forget the Indian soldiers who died in the First World War alongside French troops.

The main Paris fireworks display is set to go ahead on Friday evening and will be watched by Mr Macron and Mr Modi after they attend a banquet with 200 guests at the Louvre Museum.

During a press conference, Mr Modi said defence co-operation was a key pillar of Franco-Indian relations and that the two nations would discuss possibilities for co-production as part of efforts to deepen ties.

Mr Modi also told reporters that the countries had prepared a plan to work together in areas including space and nuclear energy.

Mr Macron referred to a “convergence” between France and India 25 years after they first signed a strategic partnership deal.

“We defend the same idea together of the Indo-Pacific, a space that must remain open and free of all hegemonic power,” he said during the press conference with Mr Modi, in a veiled reference to Beijing.

The trip comes less than a month after US President Joe Biden hosted Mr Modi on a state visit, during which Washington offered critical military technology, including fighter jet engines and high altitude drones, to New Delhi.

Mr Macron has treated only a few global leaders to the Bastille Day military parade.

He invited Donald Trump to the 2017 celebrations, and the former US president was so impressed by the French march-past that he asked Pentagon officials to explore a similar parade in celebration of American troops.