French President Emmanuel Macron will be the guest of honor at India's Republic Day parade in January, New Delhi announced on Friday, days after US President Joe Biden stepped down.
Macron “will visit India as the chief guest of the 75th Republic Day celebrations” at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Biden's refusal to respond to India's invitation to attend the annual parade, which marks the implementation of India's post-independence constitution, comes after a diplomatic row over an alleged Indian plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the US.
The US Department of Justice last month accused an Indian national of planning the murder, and alleged that an Indian government official was also involved in the planning.
In his first comments on the matter, Modi told the Financial Times newspaper on Wednesday that his government would investigate any evidence provided by Washington regarding the alleged plot.
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“If anyone gives us information, we will definitely investigate it,” Modi said.
“If any of our citizens do something right or wrong, we are ready to investigate it. Our commitment is to the rule of law. »
New Delhi and Washington are close allies and formed the Quad with Australia and Japan, a strategic partnership seen as aimed at countering China's regional influence.
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India also has close ties with France, which is a major supplier to its armed forces.
The Republic Day Parade is a highly choreographed cultural and military spectacle consisting of tanks, fighter jets, motorbike stunts and traditional dances from various parts of the country.
Modi was Macron's guest of honor at France's annual Bastille Day celebrations.
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