Modi and Macron agree on defence ties but stand apart on Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave before attending a meeting at the Foreign Affairs ministry in Paris (Julien de Rosa, Pool via AP/PA)

India is close to buying new French warplanes and submarines and played a starring role in France’s Bastille Day celebrations on Friday.

French President Emmanuel Macron skirted around concerns about threats to rights and freedoms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government.