Modi as Guest of Honor on "National Day" in France

The French presidency noted on Friday that "Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepted the invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to be the guest of honor at the traditional military parade held on Bastille Day, July 14." The presidency explained in a statement that "a contingent of the Indian armed forces will participate in the parade alongside French soldiers." It highlighted that "Modi's visit will coincide with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the strategic partnership between France and India." The statement added, "This historic visit will also enable joint initiatives to address significant challenges of our time, such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and achieving sustainable development goals." It is worth mentioning that Bastille Day is France's national day.