Sarkozy next R-Day guest

New Delhi eyes France's nuclear power expertise.

In a move that is designed to send myriad messages in the current domestic political climate, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be India's chief guest at the Republic Day parade next year.

An invitation to Sarkozy means India will signal its intention to actively woo French investment in nuclear energy (France has nearly 60 working nuclear plants, generating 76 per cent of the country's electricity, hydroelectricity powers covering just 12 per cent of its power needs), assuming that the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement would be operationalised by then.

Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin was the chief guest on the same occasion, where a number of important agreements between India and Russia were signed.

France, which is an influential member of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) and has vowed to support India at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the NSG, is eyeing India's arms market, especially the purchase of the 126 Multi Role Combat Aircraft that India wants to buy.

French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Rafale is likely to make a bid for the purchase.

However, the invitation will win the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government no brownie points with the Left for many other reasons: Sarkozy came to power defeating Socialist candidate Segolene Royal in May this year with a comfortable majority and is a huge admirer of the US.

While his predecessor Jacques Chirac spared no opportunity to criticise the US vision of a unipolar world, Sarkozy, in his victory speech, was happy to deal with the US with the equivalent of a diplomatic slap on the wrist.

"I'd like to appeal to our American friends to say that they can count on our friendship," he said.

Since he won the election on the back of a strong commitment to economic reform, Sarkozy has poured state funds into the sick French company, Alstom, and appointed a broad-based government in which centrist and leftist figures hold some of the key posts.

Sarkozy's domestic policies, especially towards immigrants in France, have been controversial as he wants a crackdown on poor and illegal immigrants while encouraging immigrants with high technological and other skills.