India set to roll out the red carpet for Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron will be accorded a royal Rajputana welcome when he lands in Jaipur on the afternoon of January 25 even as the two nations are poised to embark on a military-industrial partnership that is firmly anchored in local manufacturing. President Marcon is the Chief Guest for 75th Republic Day.

- Shishir Gupta

CHIEF GUEST FOR REPUBLIC DAY

While substantive details of the two day visit of the French President to India were worked on by his diplomatic advisor Emmanuel Bonne and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday, the finer details are still being worked out on what should turn out to be a gala show for Emmanuel Macron.

Even though there is a toss-up in royal venues for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dinner in honour of his guest at Jaipur, the meal and the venue will seek to match what President Marcon did for PM Modi in July — closing the fabled Louvre for a banquet. For the first time in 60 years, the museum was closed to visitors on Bastille Day with the last time this was done being back when Queen Elizabeth visited Paris in 1953.