Chief guest Macron 'saves face for Modi', offers 'overt support for increasingly authoritarian PM'
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The French president arrived in India where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was set to be the chief guest at the country’s national day celebrations. Emmanuel Macron began his visit with some sightseeing in the western city of Jaipur, a popular tourist destination, where he visited a 17th-century fort and an 18th-century observatory. Modi greeted him at the observatory and the two stood in an open jeep as they were driven for about 1.5 kilometers (one mile). Large crowds lining the streets welcomed them with a showering of rose and marigold petals. Large cutouts of their images with the inscription “India-France Friendship” dotted the route. Macron waved at the crowd. Macron and Modi later held a meeting at a hotel in Jaipur before flying to New Delhi. There was no immediate official statement about the outcome of the meeting, but they were expected to discuss major global challenges including economic, defense, space and cyber security, as well as France's role in the Indo-Pacific region. France is looking to strengthen cooperation with India in areas ranging from climate to military sales, despite frictions over the two countries' attitudes toward Russia's war on Ukraine. France has reiterated its commitment to a defense relationship with India, including sharing technology. The two countries are working on co-development and co-production defense projects. As Macron arrives in India, where he's chief guest at National Day celebrations, FRANCE 24's François Picard is joined by Dr Subir Sinha, Author, Director of the SOAS South Asia Institute and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Development Studies at SOAS London.