July 14: Macron awards the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor to Indian Prime Minister Modi

2023-07-14 10:40:12

Guest of honor at the July 14 military parade, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was decorated with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor by President Emmanuel Macron, the Élysée announced. “This decoration salutes the role of the Prime Minister in the excellent relationship of friendship and trust that unites France and India,” added the presidency.

“It is with great humility that I accept the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor”, ​​the highest distinction that a French president can award, reacted on Twitter Narendra Modi. “I thank President Emmanuel Macron, the government and the French people for this gesture. It shows their deep affection for India and their determination to promote friendship with our nation,” he added.

It is with great humility that I accept the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. It is an honor for India’s 1.4 billion people. I thank the President @EmmanuelMacronthe government and the people of France, which shows their deep affection towards India and… pic.twitter.com/NcVctHYQfV

Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 14, 2023

The insignia of the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor were awarded to Narendra Modi on Thursday evening during a reception at the Élysée. The Indian Prime Minister arrived in Paris at midday for a two-day official visit.

He will attend with the French president the military parade on the Champs-Élysées this Friday morning, where a contingent of the Indian armed forces will participate. The two heads of state will make a joint statement before an interview at the Elysee Palace scheduled for 5:05 p.m., and an official dinner at the Louvre Museum, where more than 200 guests are expected.

A controversial visit

This visit is an opportunity to announce contracts and collaborations between the two countries. India yesterday gave its agreement in principle to the purchase of 26 Rafale aircraft from Dassault Aviation, in the Navy version for the Indian aircraft carrier, and three Scorpene submarines from France. India’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement that the price and other terms are yet to be negotiated with the French government.

Paris and New Delhi are celebrating this year the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership, which France aims to strengthen in order to weigh in the Asia-Pacific zone, although India is accused by NGOs of authoritarian drift. “India will have a decisive role for our future, it is also a strategic partner and a friendly country”, declared Emmanuel Macron on Thursday evening during a speech to the armies.

Ecologists denounced this visit, “a major political fault” on the part of Emmanuel Macron. Narendra Modi’s party “is a Hindu nationalist political movement on the far right of India’s political spectrum”, they wrote in a statement. Since coming to power in 2014, India “has continued to regress in its fight against poverty, against inequality, as well as in terms of human rights and fundamental freedoms”, they added.