PM Modi Begins 2-Day France Visit; Defence, Bastille Day Celebrations In Focus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for France on Thursday at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. He will be in the country for two days, from July 13 to 14.

On July 14, PM Modi will be the guest of honor at the annual Bastille Day Parade, which is a major military event in France.

During the parade, a 269-member Indian tri-service contingent will participate, and three Rafale fighter jets from the Indian Air Force (IAF) will join the flypast alongside French jets.

In addition to this, PM Modi will also hold talks with President Macron to take forward cooperation in a range of key areas, including defence, space, trade and investment. He is also scheduled to travel to Abu Dhabi after his visit to France.

In a tweet, PM Modi said, "Leaving for Paris, where I will take part in the Bastille Day celebrations. I look forward to productive discussions with President Emmanuel Macron and other French dignitaries. Other programmes include interacting with the Indian community and top CEOs."

Prime Minister Modi also mentioned his upcoming official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), stating, "On the 15th, I will be in the UAE for an official visit. I shall be holding talks with H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. I am confident our interactions will add strength to India-UAE friendship and benefit the people of our countries."