- The French President is scheduled to be the fifth head of state to be named principal guest at the Republic Day celebrations.
- This will mark the sixth time since 1976 that the primary guest of the festivities has been a French head of state.
- Under Macron’s attendance, France will hold the record for the most chief guests at the event.
On January 26, French President Emmanuel Macron is slated to be the fifth head of state to be named principal guest at the Republic Day celebrations, following the US’s rejection of India’s offer for President Joe Biden.
In addition, this will mark the sixth time since 1976 that the primary guest of the festivities has been a French head of state. With less than six weeks remaining, the Indian side had a difficult time securing a global leader to serve as the head guest, supposedly because of Biden’s attention to home politics.
President Macron
Macron’s attendance at the event has not been officially confirmed by Indian authorities, although this is anticipated to change soon.
François Hollande (2016), Nicolas Sarkozy (2008), Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (1980), and Jacques Chirac (1976 and 1998) are among the French presidents who have attended the event as guests.Under Macron’s attendance, France will hold the record for the most chief guests at the event.
The announcement coincides with France submitting a bid to India’s defense ministry to sell 26 Rafale-Marine combat jets for an estimated ₹50,000 crore.
The Indian Air Force now flies 36 Rafale jets that were obtained under a ₹59,000-crore agreement that was finalized in 2016. These jets are meant to bolster the Indian Navy’s combat capability.
Macron and Modi have a good relationship, and France is now among India’s closest European allies. Both nations are involved in trilateral alliances that aim to collaborate on issues including resilient supply chains and marine security.
