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The State Dinner was organized by French President Macron in honor of Prime Minister Modi in 2023.
PM Modi will leave on the sixth tour of France today. He is going to France for the first time after becoming Prime Minister for the third time. The PM last went to attend the French National Day (Bastil Day) program in 2023.
In honor of the Prime Minister, the French government has organized a VVIP dinner at the famous Elisy Palace on 10 February. It will feature leaders from some other countries including French President Macron.
On February 11, PM will co -preside at the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit 2025 at the Grand Palace in Paris with President Macron. The summit was held in Britain in 2023 and South Korea in 2024.
In the summit, the use of AI will be discussed with the responsibility of AI, so that it is useful for the good of the people and its threats are controlled. During this time, there can also be talk on global politics. PM Modi can meet French industrialists.
PM Modi with French President Macron, France invited PM Modi to co -chair the third AI Summit.
China and America also at AI Summit
US Vice President JD Vance and Chinese Deputy Prime Minister will also attend the AI Action Summit. According to Reuters, the program may also include OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Google and Microsoft officials may also attend the program.
This visit of Modi is expected to strengthen the defense relations between the two countries. In fact, during this visit, many important deals can be finalized, including the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine Fighter Jet and 3 Scorpion Class Submarine between India and France during this visit.
France’s stand separate from West regarding India
According to JNU professor Rajan Kumar, France’s stand on India is different from other Western countries. America, Britain and Germany question India over human rights and democracy. In comparison, France interferes much in internal affairs of India. This is one of the main reasons that India has never had a big estrangement with France.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also described the friendship between India and France as unbreakable. This thing has also come to the test of time many times. France has always stood firm in India’s favor on the issue of Kashmir and terrorism in the United Nations.
After the 1998 Pokhran nuclear test, many countries had distanced the distance from India when India did the first joint naval exercise with France. Its 21st edition was held in January 2023. France and India also conducted their first joint military exercise France India Joint Exercise in March 2023.
India’s support on the issue of Kashmir in France UN has veto on Pakistan’s proposals. During a conversation with the then Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on 28 August 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron described Kashmir as a bilateral case of India and Pakistan. Apart from this, France has also continuously worked with India on the issue of FATF and Indo Pacific.
In 2017, PM Modi photo of French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to France.
India conducted the first nuclear test with the help of France
According to a BBC report, France has been India’s close aide in energy, aerospace and defense sector since the 1970s. The US refused to supply India required to conduct nuclear tests. India then conducted its first nuclear test in 1974 with the help of France.
The US stopped supply of uranium to the nuclear plant to India in 1978 due to non -signing of the Nuclear Non -Proliferation Treaty (NPT). India did not get help from Russia either. At such a time, France supplied uranium to India in 1982 to run the Tarapur nuclear plant.
After this, in 1982, French President François Mitran visited India.
During this time, there was a deal between France and India to buy 200 Miraj planes. This was the beginning of a large defense deal between the two countries.
Unlike Western countries, France helped India set up a nuclear plant. France is the only country after Russia that helped to increase India’s nuclear capability. Negotiations between the two countries are still going on about this plant. The nuclear plant in Jaitpur, Maharashtra was possible only with the help of France.
According to the French newspaper La Mond, India has been close to France since 1998 as a geo-strategic. French President Jake Shiraq came to India in January 1998, four months before the Pokhran Test, after which both countries set up strategic relations.
France included in India’s top-2 weapons suppliers
According to the French newspaper La Mond, France has been supporting India even at a time when all the great powers of the world including America left India. After the nuclear test in Pokhran, countries like the US, Japan, German and Britain imposed several restrictions on India, but France supported India.
France began selling weapons to India, ignoring American sanctions and has now become India’s second largest defense weapon supplier after Russia. India has received Mirage 2000 fighter Jet, Rafale Fighter Jet and Scorpin submarine from France.
France always supported India on International Forum
During the G20 Summit in September 2023, PM Modi invited US President Joe Biden to attend the 2024 Republic Day celebrations. But in December, he refused to come to India. At such a time, India sent an invitation to French President Emmanuel Macron to attend Republic Day. He also accepted it immediately.
France has always supported India on international forums. French President Emmanuel Mankron demanded India to make India a permanent member of the Security Council in September 2024. Apart from this, France is also in favor of making India a member in the Nuclear Supply Group (NSG).
