French Minister Fabius to push Rafale deal

After SAARC leaders, the Chinese Foreign Minister and the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, the government will host its first high-level Western visitor as French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius lands in Delhi on Sunday night for a two-day visit.

Mr. Fabius, who will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, will also meet Defence and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to make a pitch for speeding up the Rafale aircraft deal. Mr. Fabius arrives ahead of U.S. Senator John McCain, and U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Diplomatic sources called the aircraft deal an “important part, but only one part” of Mr. Fabius’ agenda, which includes ministerial engagements on education and an event where the French Légion d’honneur will be conferred on Shah Rukh Khan.