In a major development, the Defence Ministry today gave an initial nod to the plans to buy 26 Rafale fighter aircraft and three Scorpene class conventional submarines from France.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent that arrived in France on Friday has been engaged in a practice session for the upcoming Bastille Day celebrations scheduled to be held in the European country on July 14.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he is looking forward to his meeting with President Macron in Paris on Bastille Day, adding that the India-France Strategic Partnership holds great significance for global good.
The National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the Diplomatic Advisor to French President Emmanuel Bonne emphasised on the continuation of strategic dialogue between India and France during their talks on Thursday.
Sharing details regarding the meeting between Bonne and Doval, French Embassy in India in a tweet stated, "E. Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to Prez @EmmanuelMacron, held in-depth talks with NSA Ajit Doval to prepare for PM @NarendraModi's visit to France next week. Defence, energy, space, new te
India and France are working on several commercial and government-to-government agreements that may be inked during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's forthcoming visit to France.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France on its National Day, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain expressed the desire to have Indian troops participate in the parade and Indian Rafales in the sky to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two
"Given yesterday's announcement of a new national day of action against pension reform on Tuesday, March 28 in France, the visit of King Charles III, initially scheduled for March 26 to 29 in our country, will be postponed," the statement read.
Taking to Twitter, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information of the Indian Army said, "General Manoj Pande #COAS visited Ecole Military School at #Paris. #COAS interacted with Director, Centre for Doctrine & Command Teaching #CDEC & addressed the Senior Staff Officers'
During the visit, Army Chief Manoj Pande will lay a wreath at Neuve Chapelle Indian Memorial, which commemorates the sacrifices of 4,742 Indian soldiers during the first world war.