India set to buy more Rafale jets, French president to visit India next month as R-Day chief guest

NEW DELHI: India's external affairs ministry has announced that French President Emmanuel Macron will visit India next month and will be the chief guest at the 2024 Republic Day celebrations. France has officially accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation.

“As strategic partners, India and France share a high degree of convergence on a range of regional and global issues. This year, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership,” the statement said.

India is set to sign a deal to buy more Rafale fighter jets as part of its efforts to strengthen its military and modernize its arsenal. A Rs 52,000 crore deal is likely to be signed in January itself during the visit of the French President. Recently, he was in Paris based on the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest on France's National Day.

French presidents have attended India's Republic Day celebrations in the past. Before Macron, five French presidents have visited New Delhi as the chief guest on Republic Day.