‘Proud to be with you’: French President Macron attends India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations | Watch

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday witnessed India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations on royal duty en route to New Delhi, attended by prominent leaders including Indian President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

Macron was joined by Union Cabinet members, foreign diplomats and several other dignitaries during the ceremony, which was accompanied by a grand military parade and cultural performances.

Ahead of the ceremony, the French leader took to social media to wish India a happy Republic Day and said he was proud to be a part of the celebrations. “My warm wishes on your Republic Day. Happy and proud to be with you. let’s celebrate!”

French President Macron was also seen accompanying Draupadi Murmu on his way to the duty entourage in a special presidential carriage escorted by the President’s bodyguard.

Macron later shared a post on social media platform X with a video of the French contingent marching, saying, “A great honor for France. Thank you, India.” The leader was also seen smiling as the group passed by Macron.

Upon reaching Jaipur on Thursday, the French leader was welcomed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, after which Macron held a grand road show with Prime Minister Modi.

Macron also visited the Pink City’s iconic sites Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal, which tourism trade stakeholders believe will further boost the tourism industry.

After a red carpet welcome to the French leader, Modi and French President Macron on Thursday held wide-ranging talks to further strengthen India-France strategic cooperation, especially in the areas of defence, security, trade and clean energy.

The talks took place at a 19th-century palace after Modi and Macron conducted a roadshow from the Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory to the Pink City’s iconic Hawa Mahal.

This is the sixth time (highest for any country) that a French leader is attending India’s biggest formal event. The tradition began with President Jacques Chirac in 1976, followed by Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in 1980, Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008, and François Hollande in 2016.