India has extended an invitation to the French President Emmanuel Macron to be the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations in 2024.

Earlier in the year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to France and attended the Bastille Dat Parade in Paris as the Guest of Honour.

Joe Biden was invited by Prime Minister Modi to be the chief guest for the Republic Day 2024 celebrations during the G20 Summit in New Delhi in 2023, but the US President’s visit never proceeded. The United States has not given any particular explanation for Biden’s refusal to accept India’s invitation.

This is the sixth time a French leader has been invited to lead the R-Day parade as the chief guest.

France has had the distinction of being the only country to have received the most invitations to India’s Republic Day festivities since 1950.

The day is especially significant since it marks the implementation of India’s Constitution, which marks the country’s transition to a republic.

The then-French President François Hollande was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebration in 2016, whereas President Nicolas Sarkozy was welcomed as the country’s guest in 2008.

In 1998, then-French President Jacques Chirac was invited, while in 1980, newly established French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing was invited to India as the primary guest for the Republic Day festivities.

France’s ex-Prime Minister Jacques Chirac was the first foreign leader to be invited as the chief guest for India’s Republic Day celebrations in 1976.

Ties between France and India

India’s gesture of inviting the French president to be the primary guest for Republic Day celebrations demonstrates the two nations’ long-standing friendship and confidence.

France has been India’s most important partner in areas such as space, human rights, and defense equipment.

The year 2023 also commemorates the 25th anniversary of the India-France strategic cooperation. During PM Modi’s visit to Paris earlier this year, a plan for the next 25 years was announced, with both sides committing to investigate projects to enhance the Indian submarine force, French help to create the “Shakti Engine,” and collaboration in the Indo Pacific.

Earlier this week, the French government presented to India’s defense ministry a comprehensive letter of acceptance (LoA) for the estimated Rs 50,000 crore purchase for 26 Rafale-Marine fighter planes and accompanying equipment.

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